Insight

Natural Building Systems (NBS) used a selection of tools from Dart to complete the HAUS project at InstallerSHOW 2026. We caught up with NBS to find out which tools had the biggest impact and which ones they’d recommend to other builders.This build involved everything from cabinetry and flooring to tiling and electrical work. Which Dart tool did you reach for most often, and why?

If there was one category of tool that was constantly in use, it was probably the drilling and driving accessories. The DART Driver Impact Bit & Drill Set, PZ2 Impact Driver Bits and Premium Magnetic Holders seemed to follow the team everywhere. The project involved thousands of fixings across the modules, cabinetry, flooring and internal finishes, so having reliable bits that could cope with constant use without rounding over made a huge difference.

When you were replacing the Alusid ceramic tiles, what impressed you most about the XT10 Diamond Tile Blade?

The XT10 Diamond Tile Blade was a pleasant surprise. The Alusid tiles we used are manufactured from recycled waste materials and have a distinctive textured, terrazzo-style finish, so the last thing we wanted was unnecessary chipping or damage to the visible face. The blade produced clean, controlled cuts with very little breakout and gave the team confidence when working on finished surfaces where mistakes would have been highly visible.

Drilling through finished tiles can be a nerve-racking job. How did the Mini Porcelain Tile Drill Set help you achieve clean, accurate holes without damaging the tiles?

Everyone knows that moment when you start drilling into a finished tile and hope for the best! The Mini Porcelain Tile Drill Set took a lot of that stress away. It started cleanly without wandering, tracked accurately and produced neat holes for fixings without cracking or damaging the surrounding tile, which was particularly important in completed bathroom and kitchen areas.

You were working with birch plywood for the window sills. How important was the combination of the track saw blade and router bits in achieving that finished look?

Very important. The birch plywood window sills were a prominent design feature throughout the project, so accuracy and finish quality really mattered. The DART Cordless Wood Saw Blades delivered clean cuts with minimal breakout on the exposed ply layers, while the router bits allowed us to soften edges and add subtle finishing details. Together they helped turn a simple construction detail into a finished feature that complemented the overall aesthetic of the build.

There were several jobs in awkward or confined spaces. How much difference did the Flexible Angle Driver and Mini Angle Driver make compared to a standard drill or impact driver?

More than you might expect. During the HAUS build we regularly used them when fixing within kitchen cabinetry, service voids and other tight areas where a standard drill simply wouldn’t fit. To be honest, they were probably some of the most used, most borrowed and most frequently searched-for bits of kit on the project. They seemed to disappear from one installer’s toolbox and magically reappear in someone else’s several times a day because they were just so useful. In several locations we would otherwise have needed to partially dismantle work or spend time approaching fixings from awkward angles. The Flexible Angle Driver and Mini Angle Driver allowed us to keep fixings square, maintain a cleaner finish and complete installations much more quickly. Across a project involving hundreds of small tasks, those time savings really added up and helped keep the build on schedule ahead of the exhibition.

You used some of Dart’s latest products, including the Stubby Four-Wing Auger Bit and Ultra-Speed Flat Bit. What stood out about them, and where do you see yourself using them on future jobs?

The speed was the standout feature. We used them for drilling through joists and structural timber for services, and both products made quick work of what can otherwise be a repetitive task. The Stubby Four-Wing Auger Bit was particularly useful where space was restricted, while the Ultra-Speed Flat Bit lived up to its name. Both are products we can see being used regularly on future timber-frame and retrofit projects.

The modules themselves weigh around 10 tonnes. When assembling something on that scale, how important is it to have accessories like reliable impact sockets that you can trust?

Absolutely critical. When you’re lifting and connecting modules of that size, the focus needs to be on the installation, not whether your accessories are going to fail. Having robust impact accessories and socket adaptors that can withstand repeated high-torque use provides confidence and keeps work moving safely and efficiently.

Time was obviously at a premium building InstallerSHOW HAUS ahead of a live exhibition. Were there any Dart products that genuinely saved you time or made the job easier?

Quite a few, to be honest. The Impact Bit & Drill Set, Multi-Tool Blade Set, Reciprocating Wood & Nail Blades, Flexible Angle Driver and Ultra-Speed Flat Bit all contributed in different ways. Installer HAUS involved hundreds of small tasks and time savings add up quickly. The products that reduced tool changes, sped up drilling or made awkward jobs easier were the ones that delivered the biggest benefit.

If another builder was taking on a similar project tomorrow, which three Dart products would you recommend they have in their van, and why?

That’s a difficult choice, but we’d probably choose the Driver Impact Bit & Drill Set for its versatility, the Ultra-Speed Flat Bit for rapid timber drilling, and the Multi-Tool Blade Set because there always seems to be a job where a multi-tool becomes the hero of the day. Between those three products you’d be well equipped for a huge range of site tasks.

Now that HAUS is complete, which Dart product exceeded your expectations the most, and what’s the one thing you’d tell other tradespeople about it?

The product that probably exceeded expectations most was the Ultra-Speed Flat Bit. Everyone expects a drill bit to make a hole, but the speed and ease with which it worked through timber genuinely stood out. The advice we’d give other tradespeople is simple: don’t underestimate how much time the right accessory can save. On a project with tight deadlines, small improvements repeated hundreds of times can make a very big difference.

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