BUILDING products manufacturer Glidevale Protect has announced it has teamed up with the NHBC to support the next generation of industry professionals by delivering training and demo sessions focused on cavity tray installation.
Glidevale Protect’s training manager, Andy Mathers, recently visited the NHBC’s training hubs at Hull, Cambridge and Tamworth to provide training for their teams of bricklaying apprentices. During each day, he led a group practical demonstration to show how correctly installed stepped cavity trays prevent water penetration to the inside face of the wall, revealing how the integral weeps within the product work to avoid the build-up of water.
At the end of the sessions, Glidevale Protect donated some of its cavity trays to allow the apprentices to put what they’d learnt into practice, giving them hands-on experience by using products they will likely be installing on site.
Glidevale Protect’s brickwork trays have an integral bed weep within the product, allowing water to drain to the outer face of the external wall at each stepped tray. The cavity trays are designed with a fleximouth mortar barrier on the lower leading edge of the tray which is kept attached during installation. Once the mortar has set, the protruding tab can is pulled, leaving a 25mm deep groove to allow flashing to be installed without needing to rake out the joint.
Andy took the apprentices through the installation process during the practical exercise, also highlighting the pitch marks on the back of each tray which aid installation and avoid incorrect positioning.
Jim Smith, head of technical from Glidevale Protect, said, “As specialists in ventilation solutions, condensation control, energy efficiency and damp proofing for the UK housing market, we’re always keen to get behind activity like this and do our bit to support the next generation. These sessions highlight the enhanced real-life learning apprentices experience through NHBC training hubs and we enjoyed working with the engaged groups of individuals.”
