When it comes to preserving a home’s good looks, PVC soffits and fascias provide a modern, virtually maintenance-free alternative to the more traditional painted timber variety.
PVC is completely weather proof and requires only the occaisional wipe over with soapy water to keep it looking as good as new. It never needs painting and it does not warp, rot, flake or crack. It can be especially beneficial in those hard to reach areas where regular maintenance is difficult.
The following guide prices are based on using Concord Roofline Cellular PVC tiles. They relate to normal uncomplicated roof shapes and include the proper use of scaffolding, stripping the existing roofline trim, supplying and fixing new PVC replacements.
Mid terrace
From £1,200
3 bedroom semi-detached
From £1,800
3 bedroom bungalow
From £2,000
4 bedroom detached
From £2,500
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE SURE that you find the right contractor to do the job. Based on the home improvements report published by the Office of Fair Trading, we recommend that you should:
1. Ask at least two local roofing contractors to inspect your roof and provide a free written quotation.
2. Be sure that the estimate specifies Redland tiles, fixed in accordance with the Redland Re-roofing Specification. For larger jobs consider getting professional advice from an architect or building surveyor.
3. Be clear whether any sub-contractors are being used and who is liable if anything goes wrong. Ask your local authority if you can get a grant and whether you need building regulations approval.
4. Be sure, by a second opinion if necessary, that the firm you choose is competent to carry out the work.
5. Be sure that the quotation gives full details of prices, guarantees (and how long they last), and an indication of when the contractor will be able to carry out the work. You should be clear whether the contractor has included for work required to chimneys, abutment walls and roof timbers.
6. Be careful about paying money in advance or giving unduly high deposits.
7. If a problem should arise that cannot be solved with your contractor get advice quickly from a solicitor or your local Trading Standards Department.
The new version of Approved Document L (‘Part L’) of the Building Regulations -The Conservation of Fuel and Power – comes into force on April 6th 2006, and will represent a landmark in the industry’s contribution to the war against global warming and climate change.The document currently in the public domain is the draft version and, although there’s at least one change that’s going to be made, it’s expected that most of it will become a fact of life in April.
Most people are resistant to change and ‘New Part L” contains more than enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Although it’s fair to say that it’s not as tough as first thought, opinion about its potential effectiveness is divided buy tiktok followers, with some saying it’s gone too far and others that it hasn’t gone far enough.
But, whatever your view, it’s undeniable that many in the world of building design are fretting about how they’re going to cope with its demands. Well, don’t be fazed – get in touch and we can advise you what you need to be doing to meet the new regulations.
