building materials Archives

Posted on 2 December 20242 January 2025 by Louise Parkes

Collier & Catchpole Lawford Hosts 1st Winter Wonderland Trade & DIY Event

“The perfect way to finish this year’s trade shows — great suppliers, a few cheeky churros & exclusive winter trade deals”

On Thursday 28th November, we hosted our first Winter Wonderland event. It was certainly one for the memory books. A great turnout of customers and suppliers, paired with winter sunshine, giveaways, games, hot churros & chocolate. We couldn’t have asked for more.

🍫 Fried churros & chocolate sauce (9.30am – 1.30pm)
📻 Prize draw to win a Makita UK DAB Radio & D.I.Y S’more Kit
❄️ Competition to win your own height in beer
👏 Live demos, displays & giveaways from RUBI UK & Ireland, Azpects Ltd, TIMCO, Mannok, Pavestone UK Limited, Sika, Brett Martin, Keylite and Colchester Institute.

“It was a great day and well organised, looking forward to the next one!” – Adrian. “Fantastic event, very welcoming environment and an amazing team at Collier & Catchpole. Well done to all involved” – Tristan. “Really enjoyed this event, great marketing again, a pleasure to see hard work come together” – Carl.

Meet The Winter Wonderland Exhibitors

Brett Martin Ltd is a global player supplying specialist plastic products for the construction, fabrication sectors worldwide. “Brett Martin is the UK and Ireland’s leading independent building products manufacturer with a comprehensive Underground, Rainwater and Plumbing product range, including the innovative Cast Iron Rainwater and Soil system, Cascade.”

Colchester Institute‘s Trowel Trades & Wood Occupations department: In partnership with industry leaders like Collier & Catchpole. “We deliver hands-on training and real-world experience. Our learners gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in the construction industry, preparing them for the next step — higher education, apprenticeships, or employment — ensuring they are workplace-ready and poised for success.” – Tristan Edwards / Chris Coe, M.Ed.

Established in 1972 — TIMCO imports and supplies more than 8,000 quality products from around the world. “From screws and fixings to power tool accessories, hand tools, adhesives, chemicals, personal and site protection, security, ironmongery, building hardware and beyond”

Based in Ipswich, Suffolk — Azpects Ltd have been developing, manufacturing and distributing hard landscaping products since 2009. “We produce products that make creating and maintaining hard landscaping EASY. The revolutionary EASYJoint has become the UK’s top-selling jointing compound amongst landscaping and building professionals.” Mica / David.

Keylite Roof Windows offers a full range of roof windows, blinds, timber loft ladders, flashings, electric operation kits and accessories. “We believe that every product produced should provide the very best in innovation, quality and value for money.” – Abie Jackson.

Mannok is one of UK & Ireland’s most diverse and experienced manufacturers of premium construction products. “Manufacturing and service excellence coupled with a passion for quality is at the core of our business and our aim is to provide an unrivalled technical support to architects, designers, engineers, contractors and building owners” Adrian Downes

RUBI Group specialise in the design and manufacture of machinery and tools for cutting, placing and maintaining tiles. “At RUBI we evolve day by day hand in hand with professionals from all over the world, providing them with the necessary tools to obtain the best results”.

Sika (Everbuild) is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection. “The reputation for Sika for quality and reliability is virtually unmatched, illustrated through a comprehensive portfolio of problem solving products that have been employed for many years” – Chris Forsyth.

This year we have done our best to ramp up our in-house events and the support we have received from our suppliers and customers has boosted the Collier brand and paved the way for the future trade days.

Well done to the Lawford team, you hosted a 10/10 event. We can still smell the churros! See you again next year for Winter Wonderland 2025. Click here to see our top photos from our “family photoshoot”.

Some highlights from the event

Posted on 14 September 202430 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

September Sizzler Trade Event at Collier & Catchpole Ipswich

We did it! On Thursday 12th September, we hosted our second annual September Sizzler trade event at our Ipswich branch — 10/10 weather, food and people.

Thank you to the Collier & Catchpole team, suppliers and customers who came along to network, enjoy a free hotdog and discuss projects with the professionals that manufacture and supply the building materials that are used throughout our communities.

Founded in 1989, the Hot Sausage Company (a family business based in Ipswich), returned to grill their famous sausages from 10am – 2pm. “At the Hot Sausage Company, we take great pride in being a well-run business that uses only top-quality ingredients for our tasty hot dogs.”

Visitors took part in a prize draw “To Win a Weber BBQ” which was collected on the day and the #StickWithACO target game returned for customers to compete to “Win Their Height in Beer” (just in time for the weekend) 🎯

There was exciting demos from RUBI Tools, various displays and plenty of giveaways throughout the day. Customers were able meet the team, take advantage of trade deals and talk projects directly with the suppliers.

We were joined by top suppliers: Azpects, Bradstone, Pavestone, Long Rake Spar Co, ACO Group, RUBI Group, Cladco Profiles, TIMCO & Sika.

“Thank you to all the suppliers and customers who came along to our September sizzler at Collier & Catchpole Ipswich branch today. Alice Collins, Carl Holder, gareth walker, Steve Palmer, Glynn Jefferies, David Hobrough, Darren James” – Karl Flintoff, Commercial Manager, Collier & Catchpole

“Thank you Karl Flintoff and all at Collier & Catchpole for inviting Timco. Really enjoyed the day” – Gareth Walker
Merchandiser for TIMCO in South East

“Many thanks for the opportunity to be there” – Steve Palmer, Installer Development Manager – Pavestone UK Ltd

“A pleasure Karl great marketing as always from you guys Louise Parkes top effort 👏👏👏” – Carl Holder, Regional Business Consultant at TIMCO

Thanks to the involvement of both suppliers and customers, the September Sizzler was more than just a trade event; it was a community-building experience. Watch this space for future events for more opportunities to network, explore the latest products & tools, and for the chance to take part in fun competitions.

Posted on 6 June 202423 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

#StickWithACO 2.0: The DIY Target Game

When our #StickWithACO pens first arrived, we didn’t search for a piece of paper to test the quality of the ink — We threw one at the nearest window! The pen stuck to the window in a clean swoop, wobbled and made everyone laugh, and it was in that moment that we discovered why these pens were so important to our merchandise collection.

Our “stick to almost any surface” pens have quickly become a hit with our team, customers and suppliers. So, we created a new and exciting addition to the campaign: a target game using the #StickWithACO pens as darts 🎯

How to play:

With the pen nib and ink removed, the challenge is simple — Throw 10 #StickWithACO pens and see how many you can stick to the Collier & Catchpole x ACO Group target.

Well done Karl Flintoff for putting our new game together. We are excited to roll out our new game at next event. Make sure you are there to take on the challenge and see how many pens you can stick to the board for the chance to win your height in beer.

Target Game DIY Project duration:

10 minutes to build the wooden frame
Approx 62 minutes to get the sticker on the whiteboard (without any bubbles)

Building materials:

4 lengths of 3×2 CLS Timber
TIMCO C2 Screws (100mm)
Old white board
Custom A0 self-adhesive sticker

Tools:

Handsaw
Power drill
Tape measure
Large format printed sticker (we got some help from The DS Group with this)
Squeegee (to smooth the sticker to the board, fairy liquid helps with this)

Posted on 24 October 202330 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Jasper’s Hedgehog Highway! Building Wildlife-Friendly Gardens

“The Adventures of Sheriff Prickles 🦔”

We’re thrilled to share the inspiring efforts of our Purchasing Manager, Jasper Smathers, who has transformed his garden into a haven for local wildlife. He has built a selection of safe-houses and tunnels from extra building materials, and used a Diamond Core Drill to create a custom hedgehog highway through the brickwork.

“We are good at building boundaries to protect our homes and land but don’t spend enough time thinking about the impact this has on our rapidly diminishing local flora and fauna.” – James Park

Jaspers commitment to keeping hedgehogs (and friends) well-fed with “safe snacks” has earned admiration from us all. The star resident? None other than Mr Sheriff Prickles, a charming hedgehog who has made Jasper’s garden his home.

Here are a few simple ways to make your garden more wildlife-friendly:

Build a Hedgehog Highway: Hedgehogs are struggling to survive due to habitat loss and barriers like fences and walls. By creating small gaps at the base of fences (around 13cm x 13cm), you can help them roam freely between gardens.
Add Shelters and Tunnels: Hedgehogs, frogs, and other creatures love to hide in cozy, dark places. You can use timber, bricks, pipe and products like paving slabs to create tunnels and shelters where wildlife can hide from predators or rest during the day.
Install Wildlife-Friendly Ponds: Adding a small pond can attract frogs and insects. Use landscaping materials, stone aggregates, and paving to safely build a pond with gradual slopes for climbing in and out.
Create Wildflower Areas: Wildflowers are essential for pollinators like bees and butterflies. With topsoil, mulch, and decorative aggregates, you can build a wildflower patch that provides food and shelter.
Build a Bug Hotel: A bug hotel is an easy, affordable, and a fantastic way to reuse old building products while supporting your local ecosystem by creating a safe haven for insects.

Support declining wild animal populations within our built environment:

Bat Boxes: Three standard brick courses high and half a brick course in width, so is easy to build in to a wall during construction. Available to pre-order.
Nest Boxes: Designed to provide a sheltered nesting refuge for small birds, specifically blue tits. Available to pre-order.
Wildlife Gully Ladders: Helps amphibians, reptiles and other small creatures to escape from drainage gullies. Available to pre-order.
Wildlife Kerbs: Designed to allow amphibians to bypass gully grating. Available to pre-order.
Wildlife Refuge: The five ACO Wildlife Refuges have been designed to provide shelter and sanctuary for various types of small animal. Available to pre-order.

Start your own Sheriff Prickles adventure and turn your home and garden into a wildlife haven today.

For more inspiration and to explore our range of garden materials, visit our website or pop into one of our branches in Colchester, Ipswich, or Lawford. Let’s help local wildlife thrive, one garden at a time.

Posted on 8 September 202323 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

September Sizzler Trade Event: Success at Our Ipswich Branch

Our very first September Sizzler at the newly revamped Ipswich branch was a huge hit! Held on Thursday, 7th September 2023, the event brought together local builders, landscapers, and DIY enthusiasts for a day filled with great food, exciting product demos, and lively discussions about upcoming projects in the community.

Visitors enjoyed everything from live demonstrations to a delicious hot dog courtesy of The Hot Sausage Co.

September Sizzler Trade Event: A Smashing Success at Our Ipswich Branch

The highlight of the day was the Build a BBQ demonstration, where Kevin showed attendees how to craft an outdoor BBQ using Pavestone Moodul Walling.

Although it was one of the hottest days we’ve seen, the live project showed how easy it can be to create your own BBQ from building materials, inspiring many to plan their next garden upgrade.

We were joined by top suppliers including: Pavestone, Azpects, OX Tools, TuffStuff, and Fernco. A fantastic opportunity for local tradespeople to network, explore the latest products, and discuss projects.

Combine two loves, DIY and BBQ’s. Building a BBQ from our Pavestone Moodul Walling. Kevin will show you how.

September Sizzler – BBQ Demo

THE HOT SAUSAGE CO.

Founded in 1989, the Hot Sausage Company was originally based in Ipswich. As a family endeavour, the business is now mainly run from Ipswich by a father and son team.

PAVESTONE

Pavestone has been synonymous with natural stone paving and walling for over a decade. Pavestone is focused on creating trading alliances with independently, privately owned builders’ merchants. Importing, manufacturing and supplying landscaping and construction products.

AZPECTS

Our revolutionary EASYJoint has become the UK’s top-selling jointing compound amongst landscaping and building professionals.Our complete range of cleaning, sealing, repairing and establishment products deliver assured results in less time with less effort.

OX TOOLS

Our mission drives us to do everything possible to expand every tradesperson’s potential. Creating ground-breaking tool innovations, by making products more sustainably, by building a creative and diverse global team.

September Sizzler at the newly revamped Ipswich branch was a huge hit!

TUFFSTUFF

TuffStuff is an extensive range of clothing and safety footwear which has been specifically created to provide you with quality, durability, and exceptional value for money.

FERNCO

Fernco has been at the heart of the civils and drainage sectors, playing a vital part in shaping the way contractors repair and refurbish drainage and sewer pipelines across the globe.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made the day such a success. We’re already looking forward to our next trade event and continuing to support the local building community with top-quality products and expert advice.

Posted on 20 April 202330 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

How to Make a Bug Hotel Using Old Building Materials

Building a bug hotel is a fantastic way to reuse old building materials while supporting your local ecosystem by creating a safe haven for insects. Not only does it help with wildlife conservation, but it also attracts beneficial insects like bees, ladybirds, and butterflies to your garden that help pollinate plants and control pests.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your own bug hotel using materials you may already have left-over from previous projects.

What You’ll Need

Bricks and Blocks: To provide the main structure and framework

Old Timber: Any offcuts or leftover pieces of wood are perfect for making different-sized compartments

Roofing Tiles: Use old tiles to make a roof that shields the bugs from rain

Drainage Pipes or Gutters: These create tubular spaces that many insects love to nest in

Decorative Aggregates: Fill gaps with decorative stones, pebbles, or slate to add texture and additional hiding spaces

Bamboo Canes: Insert bamboo or other hollow tubes to provide ideal homes for bees

Broken Terracotta Pots: Perfect for additional hiding spots

Dry Leaves, Bark, and Twigs: These are essential for filling gaps and creating a more natural habitat for wildlife

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Choose Your Location

Select a sheltered spot in your garden that gets both sun and shade. Ideally, it should be close to flowering plants to attract pollinators.

2. Create the Base Structure

Use old bricks and blocks as the base structure for your bug hotel. Stack them like you would when building a wall, leaving gaps between them. Make sure the structure is stable.

3. Add Layers with Timber

Use old timber to create multiple levels in your bug hotel. The idea is to offer a variety of spaces where different bugs can thrive. Make sure you alternate the size of spaces to cater to different types of insects.

4. Fill the Gaps

Use bamboo canes, hollow stems and drainage pipes to fill any large spaces. These tubular materials provide great nesting sites for solitary bees and other small creatures. You can also pack in twigs, dry leaves, and bark to fill smaller spaces.

5. Create Hiding Spots

Insert broken terracotta pots and smaller stones from decorative aggregates to create dark, damp places for bugs like woodlice, centipedes, and beetles to hide.

6. Make a Roof

Use roofing tiles or slabs to make a roof for your bug hotel, helping to keep it dry during wet weather. You can also add slate chippings to give it a stylish finish while protecting the bugs from the elements.

7. Decorate and Finish

Get creative by decorating the bug hotel with additional materials you have on hand. Paint some parts of the timber if you like, or add moss and grass to encourage insects to move in quicker.

By reusing building materials such as bricks, timber, and slate, you not only create a haven for insects but also reduce waste, making this project both eco-friendly and sustainable.

Creating a bug hotel is an easy, affordable, and fun project that contributes to the conservation of local wildlife while also adding a unique feature to your garden. Share your own bug hotel project (big or small) with us on completion for a feature on our social media. Good luck! 🐛

Posted on 31 January 202330 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

New #StickWithACO Pens: A Fun Challenge at Collier & Catchpole

Introducing our new #StickWithACO pens that aren’t just for writing, they’re for sticking on things and for (safely) throwing. Our new pens will stick to almost any surface.

They’ve quickly become a hit with our team, suppliers and customers, who’ve turned our new pens into a fun game — and we’re challenging you to join in on the action! Have you got time for a quick game of #StickWithACO?

How to Enter the Silicone Pen Challenge:

Grab a pen from us in-store or at one of our events
Stick/Throw the pen to something
Take a photo or video
Send it in or tag us in your post using #StickWithACO, or #BuildWithColliers

The Prizes:

🥇 1st Place: £50 Amazon voucher
🥈 2nd Place: £20 Amazon voucher
🥉 3rd Place: A selection of ACO Group and Collier & Catchpole goodies

The competition runs until February 28th 2023, so there’s plenty of time to get involved and take on the challenge! Whether you’re competing for bragging rights or for one of our fantastic prizes, a laugh is guaranteed.

Sponsored by ACO Water Management UK & Ireland — top manufacturer of drainage management systems, and other products that stick together 💧

Internal and building drainage
Landscaping
Highways & airports
Environmentally sensitive projects

ACO has developed their own unique model (Collect, Clean, Hold and Release) which embraces the entire surface water management cycle. From the point where rain lands right through to where it re-enters the natural water environment.

Explore our range of ACO Group products on our website or visit us in-store to learn more.

Posted on 23 January 202323 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Collier & Catchpole & Azpects: Limited Edition T-Shirts

Brand new Collier & Catchpole 🤝 Azpects Ltd co-branded t-shirts. On-the-go EasyJoint installation guides in 100% cotton🍦

We’ll be giving away our new t-shirts at our events throughout the year. Whether you’re attending one of our trade shows, in-store promotions, or outdoor demos, make sure to be there to grab your hands on one.

Designed in-house, featuring the EasyJoint installation guide – the tees are exclusive to Collier & Catchpole customers. A big thank you to our friends over at Azpects for their help with this project, and for their continued support.

Here’s a look at some of our most popular Azpects products you can find online and in-store.

1. EASYJoint: The Ultimate Jointing Compound

EASYJoint is a very quick, effective, and aesthetically pleasing way to fill joints between paving, be it natural stone or concrete flags. It is suitable for all types of paving material provided there is a gap of at least 3mm wide and 20mm deep.

The result of using EASYJoint, to joint your paving, will be a paving gap that is completely filled without the need for kneeling and compressing the material by hand that will last for years.

2. EASYSeal Slate and Limestone Sealer and Enhancer

EASYSeal Slate AND Limestone is an advanced water based high performance sealer using the latest technology to provide a waterproof, breathable, transparent yet durable seal to limestone and slate.

Solvent free and easy to use, EASYSeal Slate AND Limestone helps to repel dirt and stains and inhibits the growth of moss and algae.

3. EASYGrout

EASYGrout is a high-quality slurry grout for use on ceramic and porcelain tiles for a fine, textured finish. This product is a cementitious grout which is applied as a slurry unlike traditional floor tile grouts. Each 15kg tub contains 3 x 5kg bags for easy use and minimal waste.

4. EASYTileAlign Red Levelling Caps

These EASYTileAlign Red Levelling Caps from Azpects are convenient and easy to use. They are suitable for both suitable for traditional tile installation methods and for use with Azpects revolutionary EASYClickBase system.

EASYTileAlign ensures that a smooth, even surface is achieved on calibrated, ceramic, or porcelain tiles. Available in a bag of 50, these reusable caps are a quick and easy solution for ensuring a perfectly level patio.

4. Azpects EASYJoint Select

Developed from the best-selling EASYJoint Original, EASYJoint Select is an all-year-round jointing compound developed especially for ceramic and porcelain paving.

EASYJoint Select retains the sweep-in application method that made EASYJoint Original so popular, making it EASY to use and faster than traditional methods. Wet the paving, brush in the compound, then strike the joints for a perfect, professional finish every time.

Collier & Catchpole (Colchester, Lawford, Ipswich)

You can explore the complete range of Azpects products at Collier & Catchpole. Our knowledgeable team is always on hand to assist you in selecting the right products for your project. Pop into one of our branches or explore our website to discover how Azpects can elevate your landscaping and construction projects.