Trade Talks

Learn about the most common reportable items and defects found by Inspectors and Claims Investigators with our one-hour Trade Talks.

Delivered by NHBC Building Inspectors, we will focus on areas of construction where defects are most common, giving practical guidance on how to get things right first time.  They can be delivered on or near your site, provided that a suitable room is available to seat the attendees, such as a large site office, canteen, nearly completed property, show house or another venue close to the site. 

In collaboration with the HBF, CITB, the Association of Brickwork Contractors and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, we offer fully funded Brickwork and Roofing Masterclasses. At no cost to your business, these talks are fully funded for the relevant trades that work within a home-building company or within their sub-contract supply chain. Look out for the HBSP logo below for the funded masterclass.

For more information, call 01908 746380.

Current topics

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Brickwork and blockwork

Looking in depth at Standards chapter 6.1, 6.2 and 6.8, this practical talk will highlight how to deliver quality brickwork first time, every time. Areas covered include bonding; cavity work; cavity trays; movement joints; insulation; and fire safety. This talk is suitable for bricklayers, brickwork foremen and site management. Those who attend will learn about the most common issues found on-site by NHBC.

Course details
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Brickwork Masterclass

Brickwork Masterclasses, an HBF initiative delivered by NHBC in partnership with the Association of Brickwork Contractors (ABC) and funded by CITB, are designed to deliver practical skills and knowledge on the most common brickwork issues found by our inspection teams. Your bricklayers will leave the course feeling more confident in key areas of good practice.

Course details
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Carpentry and joinery

With a focus on NHBC Standards chapters 6.4 and 7.2, delegates will finish this course with a greater appreciation of the quality NHBC Inspectors expect to see on site. This talk will cover upper floor joists; wall plates; trussed rafters; and fire safety. It is aimed at carpenters/joiners, carpentry foremen and site management, and will help those listening to avoid unnecessary rework.

Course details
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Dry-lining and plastering

Concentrating on the requirements of Standards chapters 9.1 and 9.2, our Inspectors will talk through the most common issues found on site and what you can do to prevent them occurring. Content covered will include plaster boarding; wet plastering; dry lining; sound insulation; and fire safety. The 60-minute talk is suitable for dry-liners/plasterers, dry-lining/plasterer foremen, and site management.

Course details
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Foundations, ground floors and drainage

Standards chapters 4 and 5 will be the focus of this key talk to ensure your trades are fully aware of our Inspectors expectations out on site. Topics covered include trench and strip foundations; steps in foundations; raft, pile and beam; reinforcement in foundations; and ground bearing and suspended floors. This talk is suitable for groundworkers, groundworks foremen and site management.

Course details
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Pitched roof coverings

Covering the requirements in Standards chapter 7.2, this talk will address the most common concerns found during this inspection stage. This talk will cover underlay and battens; fire stopping; weathering and flashings; fixing of slates and tiles; and wet and dry verges and valleys. It is aimed at roofers, roofing foremen and site management.

Course details
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Roofing Masterclass

Roofing Masterclasses are an HBF initiative delivered by NHBC in partnership with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors and funded by CITB. Roof work is the biggest area for defects and claims and this Masterclass will help your contractors avoid some of the most common issues.

Course details
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Timber frame

This course is designed to help trades understand the most common timber frame issues NHBC finds on site. It will mainly focus on NHBC Standards chapter 6.2. Areas covered include fitting of sole plate; anchoring the frame; panel fixing; fire stopping; internal floors; and vapour control layers. The talk is aimed at timber frame erectors, timber frame foremen and site management.

Course details

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