Bricks are everywhere but few people know their qualities, how they are made or where they originate from. They have been around for millennia, and so have the bricklayers who lay them.

The Mayor of London has a number of responsibilities which are critical to builders and developers. What does the election of Boris Johnson mean for builders and construction workers in the Capital?

If you've got a period home it makes sense to reinstate period features. So where can you find the real McCoy and what's available?

The 20th Annual Sunday Times Rich List is out. Despite mutterings of property downturns and house prices falling, property tycoons and landowners make up the biggest group. And that's good news for builders.

The task for the 2012 London Olympics is so massive that the Construction Skills Network currently believes that the project will need to attract a further 182,000 builders to be ready on time.

Like most daunting tasks, clearing out drains is more straightforward than you think. Don a pair of thick rubber gloves and you won't even have direct contact with anything unpalatable.

Home entertainment is getting more sophisticated and exciting but the bits you don't need to see are increasingly easy to hide - surely that's the best of both worlds. Just get the right hardware and a good electrician to help you and you can enjoy all the benefits of modern entertainment technology.

Each region has it's own, distinctive traditional building methods developed by local builders over the years. So what are the main influences on these types of indigenous building work?

Exterior paintwork will give your house a new lease of life. And until the neighbours join the bandwagon you'll be the proud owner of the smartest house on the street.

Garden shows in the UK come in all styles and sizes, so you'll be able to pick one that appeals to you. Whether you want to go to a big show and pick up some tips and bargains, or go to a small private viewing there'll be something for you.