News
Stop Wall Tiles Sliding with a Wood Batten and the Right Adhesive
James H. Amos
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When you’re fixing new tiles to a bathroom or kitchen wall, the same issue often crops up: no sooner are...
News
Minho Urban Pentagon mayors call for concrete steps towards the Minho Metropolitan Area
James H. Amos
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Braga, Guimarães, Barcelos, Famalicão and Viana do Castelo want tangible moves towards establishing the Minho Metropolitan Area, so the region...
News
Mirai Ningen Sentakuki: the AI-powered human washing machine being developed in Osaka
James H. Amos
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What sounds like a scene from a science-fiction film is currently being turned into reality in Osaka. One company is...
News
Diesel and energy costs put construction and trades at risk of insolvency
James H. Amos
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What starts on the price boards at petrol stations is, for many construction and trades businesses, ending right on the...
News
Recycled Asphalt Driveways: A Sustainable Alternative to Concrete
James H. Amos
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Anyone refurbishing a driveway today is thinking beyond looks and durability. Carbon footprint, heat build-up and heavier downpours now matter...
News
Why councils ban Silver maple and other trees close to houses
James H. Amos
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The crown towers above the roofline, and the roots have heaved the paved path as if someone had secretly inflated...
News
Wall battens are fading in 2026: woven cane and discreet mouldings take over
James H. Amos
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Across Europe and North America, the vertical timber slats that recently signalled a “smart renovation” are beginning to feel visually...
News
Longyan in Fujian: Nanlong high-speed rail link built in nine hours
James H. Amos
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Engineers and construction crews in China’s Fujian province, in and around the city of Longyan, pulled off in a matter...
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Why the Daily Shower Is Fading - and Japan’s “Washing Machine for People” Mirai Ningen Sentakuki in Osaka by Science Co.
James H. Amos
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More than simple convenience is driving this shift. In plenty of homes, it’s now entirely normal for a day to...
News
How MIT revealed the secret behind Roman pozzolanic concrete
James H. Amos
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The ancient Romans excelled at construction and engineering, and their aqueducts are among the best-known examples. Many of these working...
News
Designing Cities for Survival: Climate Refuges in Portugal
James H. Amos
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For decades, we have designed cities around cars. The 21st century demands that we design them so people can survive....
News
Why Rubbing a Walnut on Scratched Wood Works (and How to Do It)
James H. Amos
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It could be the corner of your dining table, the arm of a much-loved chair, or the vintage chest of...
News
CATL to build a third battery factory in Europe with Stellantis in Spain
James H. Amos
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Despite the European Union (EU) trying to tighten the rules around Chinese industry entering the market, China’s push into the...
News
Why Your Tap Water Tastes Metallic in Winter - and the Cheap Plumber Fix
James H. Amos
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The first time my tap water took on a metallic edge, I genuinely assumed the water company must have had...
News
Can Cars Fit in Future Cities? Auto Talks with Susana Castelo on Urban Mobility
James H. Amos
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The city has transformed, expanded and become more modern, yet it still retains something many people thought would have disappeared...
News
Simple DIY tile scratch repair trick
James H. Amos
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The moment the light shifts, you spot it again: a faint, pale scar slicing through what used to be a...
News
Wijk bij Duurstede: Medieval Ship Rib Found During Sewer Works Near Dorestad
James H. Amos
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In Wijk bij Duurstede, roughly 25 kilometres south-east of Utrecht, what was meant to be a straightforward civil-engineering job has...
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Wood stove air supply: when an external air inlet is essential
James H. Amos
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One small, easily overlooked feature has an outsized impact on how safe and effective a stove is. Beneath the glow...
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Chicken coops in France: rules, permits, ARS 2023 risks and fines
James H. Amos
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Rules, deadlines and very real costs sit behind the trend. Anyone planning a chicken coop in their own garden in...
News
The Real Cost of DIY Furniture vs Ikea
James H. Amos
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Rising costs and Instagram-perfect DIY projects are nudging plenty of us towards the drill, and away from furniture shops. With...
News
White roofs in Wales: why Welsh rooftops are turning bright
James H. Amos
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Across Wales, the view from the pavement is subtly shifting. From semis in Swansea to bungalows overlooking the Teifi, an...
