SHS Installs Balustraded Glass for BBC DIY SOS

As part of the BBC’s DIY SOS: The Big Build ‘Avening’ episode, SHS Products donated and installed a frameless glass balustrade for the ‘Best for Ben’ home adaptation project.

The highly-anticipated episode, which aired on Wednesday 3rd October on BBC 1 at 8PM, shared the triumphant tale of a father’s return home after 14 months of rehabilitation following a tragic pool accident in Cyprus in 2016.

Ben Wernhem, a 33-year-old project manager from Avening, was left paralysed from the neck down after slipping and falling headfirst into the shallow end of a pool. Ben underwent treatment in Cyprus, Germany and the Salisbury Spinal Unit in the UK and made amazing progress during his rehabilitation.

To reunite Ben with his wife and two daughters and make it possible for them to live together again, their family home was readapted with front access, an impressive 3-metre bridge, lush landscaping, a two-story extension with a through-floor lift, and bespoke care provisions including a home-office space.

The community came together to raise funds and begin the adaptations. They then called upon the DIY SOS Team to join forces and help make this dream build a reality. A number of local tradesman and businesses offered their services to aid in the completion of the restoration, among them was SHS Products.

Rebecca Ashmore, Sales and Marketing Director of SHS Products said:

“As soon as we heard Ben’s story, we knew we needed to be part of the project that would reunite him with his family and enable him to support this wife and two daughters once again.

The footbridge that was added to the property required a balustrade system that would provide safety without distracting from the beautiful new landscaping. For this project, the SHS Frameless Balustrade System was a perfect fit.

Our in-house installation team fitted 6 metres of aluminium channels and laminated glass panels to the footbridge that connects the garden to Ben’s new home office on the first floor. Like all SHS products, this balustrade system was certified strength tested, assuring that this prominent feature was not only a beautiful addition but also a safe one.

It was an honour to be part of the community that brought the Wernhams back together. SHS are a UK company that is proud to manufacture high-quality products made in Britain and we will continue to do all we can to support our local communities as best we can.”

To learn more about the range of stainless steel and handrail systems available for domestic and commercial properties, please browser our website or receive a free online quotation here.