Page 2 - Latest Articles - amosjoinery.co.uk

People relaxing on stone benches under trees beside a narrow water fountain in a sunny town square.

Designing Cities for Survival: Climate Refuges in Portugal

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

For decades, we have designed cities around cars. The 21st century demands that we design them so people can survive....

Two hands holding a cracked open walnut on a wooden table with a mug and nuts in the background.

Why Rubbing a Walnut on Scratched Wood Works (and How to Do It)

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

It could be the corner of your dining table, the arm of a much-loved chair, or the vintage chest of...

Engineer in a high-visibility vest marking a map on a table with a laptop showing a video call in a bright industrial workspa

CATL to build a third battery factory in Europe with Stellantis in Spain

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

Despite the European Union (EU) trying to tighten the rules around Chinese industry entering the market, China’s push into the...

Woman in sweater drinking a glass of water by a kitchen sink with a window showing a snowy scene outside.

Why Your Tap Water Tastes Metallic in Winter - and the Cheap Plumber Fix

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

The first time my tap water took on a metallic edge, I genuinely assumed the water company must have had...

White electric sedan parked indoors next to a charging station with a tram passing outside large windows.

Can Cars Fit in Future Cities? Auto Talks with Susana Castelo on Urban Mobility

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

The city has transformed, expanded and become more modern, yet it still retains something many people thought would have disappeared...

Person applying grout or sealant with a brush on tiled bathroom wall edges taped for precision.

Simple DIY tile scratch repair trick

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

The moment the light shifts, you spot it again: a faint, pale scar slicing through what used to be a...

Archaeologist in safety gear documents a partially excavated ancient wooden boat at a dig site.

Wijk bij Duurstede: Medieval Ship Rib Found During Sewer Works Near Dorestad

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

In Wijk bij Duurstede, roughly 25 kilometres south-east of Utrecht, what was meant to be a straightforward civil-engineering job has...

Man adjusting a pipe connected to a modern wood-burning stove in a bright living room.

Wood stove air supply: when an external air inlet is essential

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

One small, easily overlooked feature has an outsized impact on how safe and effective a stove is. Beneath the glow...

Man assembling a wooden chicken coop while measuring tape surrounds chickens in a backyard garden.

Chicken coops in France: rules, permits, ARS 2023 risks and fines

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

Rules, deadlines and very real costs sit behind the trend. Anyone planning a chicken coop in their own garden in...

Person writing notes with a pencil on a notebook beside a tape measure and open toolbox on a wooden table.

The Real Cost of DIY Furniture vs Ikea

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

Rising costs and Instagram-perfect DIY projects are nudging plenty of us towards the drill, and away from furniture shops. With...

Man in navy shirt painting roof tiles white with roller in rural setting at sunset

White roofs in Wales: why Welsh rooftops are turning bright

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

Across Wales, the view from the pavement is subtly shifting. From semis in Swansea to bungalows overlooking the Teifi, an...

Person adjusting a white electric radiator in a cosy living room with a spilled bag of nuts on the floor.

Coconut coir pellets: a fairer, future‑proof home heating option

James H. Amos • August 16, 2026

Households are looking for warmth that feels fair on the wallet, resilient for the future and straightforward to live with....

Two people studying blueprints on a rooftop with solar panels, wind turbines, and the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Paris 2050: How the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Haussmann Buildings Become Climate-Ready

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

Paris is heading for a far-reaching transformation: icons such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the grand Haussmann-era buildings...

Modern bathroom with glass corner shower, wall-mounted toilet, wooden vanity, and black towel rack with white towel

How Atelier Ceben Turned a 15 m² Paris Studio Shower Room into a Mini Spa

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

Tucked behind a weary-looking door in a Paris apartment block, a poky, old-fashioned shower room has been transformed into a...

Person placing silverware in a wooden tray on a kitchen countertop with spice jars and knife block nearby.

14 Scrap Wood Projects to Free Up Worktops

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

A handful of leftover wooden boards can quickly turn into a well-thought-out organising system. Plenty of people will recognise the...

Couple watering fresh black gravel on driveway under construction outside their house at sunset.

Concrete Driveway vs Recycled Asphalt: the Permeable, Lower-Carbon Switch

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

Homeowners across Europe and North America are increasingly questioning the traditional concrete driveway, opting instead for recycled, water-friendly surfacing that...

Engineer in hard hat inspecting large marine engine in industrial workshop with blueprints on table nearby

Everllence readies Saint-Nazaire for a nuclear safety and greener shipping comeback

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

On France’s Atlantic shoreline, a long-established works that once stood for brute diesel muscle is now gearing up, almost unnoticed,...

Engineer in safety gear using tablet at tunnel entrance with group of workers and mountainous background.

China’s world’s longest highway tunnel: future link or costly mountain gamble?

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

The first thing motorists notice is a concrete mouth cut into a stripped mountainside, ringed by floodlights and winter haze....

Woman kneeling on floor selecting wall tiles in modern room with beige and terracotta decor.

2026 Tile Trends: What’s Replacing Faux-Wood Tiles

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

For a long time, wood-look tiles were treated as the “safe” option. By 2026, that once-reliable look can come across...

Woman in yellow saree filling a pot with water from a kitchen tap with city buildings in the background

Veolia wins record water contract in India’s second-largest city for 22 million residents

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

In India’s fast-growing urban corridor, one major city is quietly laying the groundwork for a sweeping overhaul of a resource...

Scientist examining cracked road surface with samples and tablet showing magnified microorganisms outdoors.

Living roads: how bacteria create self-healing asphalt and concrete

James H. Amos • August 15, 2026

What if roads could stitch themselves back together after rain, frost and traffic-silently, overnight-because microscopic builders can grow stone? The...