At ETS, we take immense pride in the continuous growth and achievement of our team members. So we are thrilled to share what our talented designer, Jenni has been up to. Jenni recently completed a commendable 12-week timber technology engineering design course through the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE). The first part of the course focused on timber as a material to work with. This involved using the correct tools to make a joint with two or more timber members. With these basic skills in place the team was tasked with creating a structure which was designed for ma ..read more

The team at ETS is always keen to learn and expand its knowledge so when an opportunity to visit a sawmill in Sweden came up, the team jumped at the chance! The sawmill was JGA, which was founded by Johan Gustaf Andersson in 1928. The business is now run by the fourth generation of the Andersson family and remains a family business to this day. JGA is one of the largest privately owned sawmills in south Sweden. It produces 250,000 m³ timber per annum using 400,000 m³ of raw material supplied by private forest owners and other suppliers.   The other party involved in the trip was Taylor ..read more

At ETS we enjoy working with our partners so when MiTek approached us and asked if its four T-Level students, from Dudley College of Technology, could spend a day at ETS, of course we said yes.  T-Levels were introduced in September 2020 and they are technical-based qualifications, developed in collaboration with employers and businesses. The idea is to train young people in areas that meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training, or study. T-Levels are two-year courses that can be studied by 16-18 year olds after finishing their GCSEs and they are the equi ..read more

Have you had cause to ask the question “what are joist hangers?” In the most general of senses joists hangers are used in the construction industry to anchor wooden joists. We are of the opinion that the less points of connection you have in your roof or floor project means less opportunity for failure. And this is why we recommend build into the main structure. However, it isn’t always possible to do this and that is where joist hangers are indispensable.  Joist hangers explained A joist hanger is a small device made of durable metal, which offer a cost effective solution to connect ..read more

In construction, a trussed roof is a type of roof with lightweight beams (trusses) supporting it. The use of trussed roofs continues to grow as builders find new ways to implement it in modern homes. Trussed roofs are also commonly used in commercial constructions such as warehouses, factories, and barns because they can support heavy loads while staying within building regulations on overhead height. In residential projects trussed roofs are great for garage conversions and room-in-the-roof projects.  A trussed roof is ideal for anyone who wants an affordable, lightweight option that won ..read more

When you first step into your chosen career, there can be pitfalls along the way. And that is exactly how my career at Engineered Timber Solution (ETS) started. I was hired in August 2008 and then laid off due to lack of work! I must have done something right during my initial time here as I was rehired again in the October. I started off on the factory floor, which was a great grounding for what was to come. As an operative I worked assembling metal web joists, roof truss jigs and operating the presses. I spent two years on the factory floor before I eventually plucked up the courag ..read more

A construction project involves many different elements. From raw materials to final inspection, almost every step of the process is intricate. Even so, there are some particular areas that stand out more than others. Floors, walls and roofs need to be at the top of the list of priorities. For example, when it comes to construction or renovation projects, the finished product can make or break your project. What type of flooring will you use? What type of flooring will your clients want? These may seem like small details, but they have a big impact on the final results. Read on for everything ..read more

We always say we like a challenge and this particular project proved exactly that. We were commissioned to provide a roof for the house, the garage and a link between both buildings, this involved a pitched steel frame for a single storey flat roof, a Green Sedum roof and included MVHR. Quite a challenge already! The pitched steel frame was used to give a very slight angle to the ‘Flat’ roof, this prevents water from pooling and allows the roof to drain properly. As the steels were angled against each other a lot of tricky measurements were required and individual joist profiles and spans had ..read more

As you might be aware, we got our new boat ‘ClearCourse’ back in June. When we got her, she had no electrics fitted other than the batteries and solar panels which allowed us to run a navigation light in the dark. As part of our final preparations, we put her back into the workshop where all the electrics were then fitted in August. We then did a final shakedown with her down at Burnham On Crouch to test all of the new equipment. This went really well. Training on the water is now complete. As part of the rules for entry into the race, we have had to complete a minimum of 120 hours on the wate ..read more

When it comes to trusses, they are an integral part of any building project’s design. They are holding up your roof, which is very important. They can also be part of the flooring arrangement too so there are a lot of options to consider. And that is why we insist on discussing projects so we can give an accurate cost of roof trusses. So how do we develop a roof trusses price? First of all, we have to identify what type of trusses are needed for the job. There are a lot to choose from for example fink trusses, raised tie and attic trusses to name but a few. Once the type of trusses is establis ..read more