Top products awards 2021

Welcome to Professional Builder’s annual industry accolade – the awards which celebrate the industry innovations of the past twelve months.

These are the products and services that have enhanced your profitability, or simply made life just that little bit easier on site – and the best thing is that they are chosen by you, our readers, the experts at the sharp end of a sector that remains amongst the most buoyant.

With the injunction to ‘build back better’ ultimately left to the nation’s army of white van men and women, 2021 has been a year when the status of tradespeople has taken on a new importance. Homebound property owners have been turning to builders to transform their domestic spaces, and you have answered the call with record levels of activity.

Much more than a magazine, Professional Builder is now able to communicate the information you need to fulfil that demand across multiple platforms, whilst our digital reader enquiry service is a direct route to more detail on anything we cover. The following pages feature the ideas that have caught your eye in the medium of print, as well as our digital coverage and advertising.

Charley Godfrey Award for Innovation

In addition to our manufacturer awards, Professional Builder bestows a special prize in honour of our former Products Editor, Charles Godfrey. As a champion of the entrepreneurial inventor who toils – often over many years – to deliver a time-saving solution to their fellow tradespeople, it is these solitary designers and makers that are the most fitting recipients of an honour that bears Charles’s name, and this year, our judges have chosen the Matey Measure™.

Measure twice and cut once might be the old adage, but there are times when your trusty tape might still leave you short. As a time-served builder of over 30 years its inventor, Stephen Capon is all too aware of how some of the seemingly smallest problems can create significant issues further down the track – and that’s where Matey Measure makes its mark.

Experienced tradesman, Stephen Capon (right) is the inventor of the Matey Measure.

Tape measures, will of course, bend in an internal recess, which makes it very difficult to measure accurately. When the Brighton-based builder was struggling to gauge the dimensions of a deep recess at the back of a kitchen in order to cut a glass panel to fit the space exactly, he had his Eureka moment.

“You have to create a template to cut glass and, because of the awkward access, as there always is in these cases, there was an element of guesswork involved. You could be as much as 3 or 4mm out, and the only way to be sure is to make the template bigger to compensate. I was thinking then that there must be a better way – and that was the germ of the idea.”

“The device securely clips onto a tape measure,” he explains. “If you are measuring a window reveal, because the tape will bow where the two perpendicular angles meet, you won’t get a completely accurate number. With the Matey Measure, however, it’s possible to get hard up against the wall, or cabinet, or under tiles above a kitchen worktop, or whatever marks the end of the distance you’re looking to calculate, and it will clearly show the exact length. It can be used on any tape up to 10m and works with both millimetres and inches.”

For further information on the Matey Measure visit https://mateymeasure.com/

Top products – Editorial

Pasquill
Timber Frame Extension Kit

It’s all in a day’s work with the Pasquill single storey timber frame extension kit. Supplied with bi-fold doors, there’s no deep foundations, a one-load delivery, minimal groundworks and one-day installation.

https://pasquill.co.uk/

Centurion Safety Products
Nexus Extreme Mips

Wise heads will be choosing the Nexus Extreme Mips, the first industrial safety helmet to offer a four-layer protection system, incorporating a pure-grade ABS shell, an EPS liner, a cradle, and, finally, the Mips Elevate Multi-directional Impact Protection System.

https://centurionsafety.eu/

Fischer Fixings
FGC 100

Fix yourself up with quick and easy fastening in concrete and steel with the fischer FGC 100. The tool features the versatility of easy nail depth adjustment, an interchangeable noise piece, and fast loading.

https://www.fischer.co.uk/en-gb/

Festool
SYS-PowerStation

Festool has taken the lead with its SYS-PowerStation. This portable energy storage solution provides a constant 2,990 watts permanent power and up to 11,000 watts short-term power, which means it operates all mains-powered tools continuously with no losses of performance.

https://www.festool.co.uk/products/mobile-power-supply/sys-powerstation/205722—sys-pst-1500-li-hp-gb240

Marshalls Bricks & Masonry,
Concrete Facing Bricks

It’s easy being green with the Marshalls Bricks and Masonry concrete facing bricks. A very low and cement content, is complemented by recyclable material, and there’s no need for firing in a kiln. Not only that, thanks to the continuous carbonation during their lifetime, they are a net absorber of CO₂.

https://www.marshalls.co.uk/commercial

Fernox
Express Inhibitor Test

Get on the fast track to protection with a portable testing kit and app for plumbers and heating engineers. The Fernox Express Inhibitor Test and the same manufacturer’s Water Test App combine to accurately analyse, record and share data on the health of a heating system.

https://fernox.com/

Marley
Roof Defence

It’s great barrier relief with Marley’s flexible, lightweight Roof Defence. Supplied on a roll, an inverted T intumescent seal expands when activated by heat, filling the space between roofing battens and sealing all spaces under the tiles, slates, and other roofing elements.

https://www.marley.co.uk/accessories/roof-defence

Isuzu
D-Max

Whether it’s work or play, you’ll want to pick up a double-cab D-Max. An impressive 3.5 tonne towing capacity is complemented by a payload of 1,120kg, with some significant interior and exterior refinements on the highest spec models.

https://www.isuzu.co.uk/

RWC
Easifit TMV October 2021, Page 58

The manufacturer was a pioneer of the concept and today RWC is continuing to push the boundaries. The Easifit TMV is a thermostatic mixing valve with push-fit ends, which will help speed up many installations, whilst its compact design is ideal for tight spaces.

https://www.rwc.co.uk/

Dulux
Heritage Range

The Dulux Heritage collection is designed to reflect British interior design traditions, whilst appealing to a modern consumer demand for period touches. There a Velvet matt for walls or eggshell for woodwork and metal with a much expanded range of colour options.

https://www.duluxheritage.co.uk/en/

Mascot
Accelerate

Mascot is accelerating advances in workwear with the latest generation of four-way stretch fabric. The result is a collection of fleece jumpers, trousers, and jackets that provide maximum manoeuvrability but can withstand industrial washing.
https://www.mascotworkwear.co.uk/en

Top products – Advertising

Tembe DIY
Hippo Foil Sealant Range

Tembe DIY is declaring war on waste plastics with eco-friendly foil packaging for its Hippo Sealants, Fillers and Adhesives range. Not only does it product 96 per cent less waste, but there’s 38 per cent more product for the end user.

https://www.tembediy.co.uk/

Senco
Duraspin

Productivity redefined is the pledge for the Senco Duraspin collated screwdriver. Ideal for drywall fixing, the manufacturer’s new Auto-Feed Attachments will also convert your Dewalt or Makita screwdrivers into auto-feed machines in seconds.

https://www.senco.com/tools/duraspin/

Made for Trade
Visoglide Plus Sliding Patio Door

With a slim aluminium profile, large sash widths, and a choice of colours – all backed up by industry leading customer service – Made for Trade is throwing open new opportunities for builders with its Visoglide Plus Sliding Patio Door.

https://www.madefortrade.co/

Buckbootz
BBZ8000

These boots were made for working and they’re going to work all day for you. Lightweight, 360º reflective, non-metallic – and with EN certified ankle impact protection (AN) and Achilles support – these Waterproof Safety Wellingtons walk the walk on site.

https://www.buckbootz.com/

Quickslide
Legacy PVCu Sash Window

Window shoppers will be quick to admire the near invisible joints in the frame, and the curvy ovolo frame shape on these PVCu units. Add to that a host of installer-friendly features and you have a worthy Top Product winner.

https://www.quickslide.co.uk/
‘Dakea Roof Windows’ on behalf of Altaterra

Built for the trade is how this manufacturer describes its extensive collection of roof window options. Its customers are supported throughout the process, from product selection through to an easy and time saving installation and aftercare, with a 20 year guarantee available.

https://www.altaterra.eu/en/

Bosch Power Tools
18V Combi Drill

Unrivalled power and control is what Bosch is promising for its GSB 18V-150 C Combi Drill. A brushless motor with BITURBO technology, ProCORE18V batteries, and maximum torque of 150Nm, ensures fast progress in screwing, drilling, and impact drilling operations.

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/

Ring
Create a Ring of Security

If you want to be as safe as houses then make sure yours is secured with Ring. Smart solutions include Video Doorbells, Stick Up Cam Plug-in motion activated cameras, Floodlight Cam, and Spotlight Cam.

https://en-uk.ring.com/

Rockwool
For insulation that’s safer, warmer and quieter

It’s easy to work with, simple to install, demonstrates superior fire and noise performance, and can significantly reduce heat loss, so why wouldn’t you warm to the Rockwool range of stone wall insulation?

https://www.rockwool.com/group/

Safeguard Europe
Damp Problems/Damp Solutions

Whether its rising damp, condensation & mould, or penetrating damp, Safeguard has the solution. The manufacturer’s Dryrod, Dryzone and Stormdry products are your damp busters on site.

https://www.safeguardeurope.com/