The Art of Assurance
This issue of INSIGHT focuses on how you can give your customers the assurance they need to ensure they choose use your services. It explains how you can provide assurance that you’re using the best products for the job and that, if anything goes wrong, you will put it right.
Assurance and trust go hand in hand. Customers need to trust that you are able, efficient, professional and honest. If they trust you, they’ll have faith in you to do a good job, and will be assured of a quality outcome. This edition is packed with information and ideas about how to give your customers peace of mind that you can do just that.
However, it isn’t just customers who need assurance. You also need assurance that the products and techniques you use, and the warranties you rely on, are fit for purpose. You need to be confident that the materials you use are up to the job and that the appropriate cover is in place. That confidence then shines through to customers, giving them the assurance they need.
KEEPING THE CODE
Following revisions to the British Standard for Tiles and Fixings (BS 5534:2014), the industry has had to adapt how we do things. Here at INSIGHT, we’ve looked at some of the latest industry innovations and product solutions that can give you assurance you’re working in a way that’s compliant with the changes. From dry fix solutions that work at a low pitch, to one-piece clip and nails, you’ll find something to help you tick those BS 5534:2014 boxes.
WINTER IS HERE
Winter can be a tricky time for roofers; products you normally rely on may not work at low temperatures and the shorter days mean your time is at a premium. Therefore it’s important to know, in harsher weather conditions, which products work and which don’t. In this issue, you can read all about the latest GRP solutions that work at low temperatures, and find out about the new foam adhesives and self-adhesive jointing tapes that can help you work more quickly and efficiently.
THE ROOFING COMMUNITY
There is a huge amount of support available to help you give your customers the assurance they’re looking for. Organisations such as DATAC and CompetentRoofer, as well as events such as the RCI Show, are designed to help the whole roofing community raise standards and achieve success. It’s reassuring to know that you’re part of a big team and that there’s a whole raft of people you can turn to for advice, help and training. Read on for all the details…
News in Brief
Give me five!
The CompetentRoofer scheme, which allows its members to self-certify their refurbishment work, recently celebrated its 5th anniversary […]
Alumasc Rainwater publish new Technical Brochure
This highly informative new publication includes detailed information about all of Alumasc’s market leading cast iron, aluminium and steel gutters and downpipes […]
New flanges from Ubbink make flat roof ventilation easier
When flat roofs were made up of either three layer felts or asphalt, the type of flange material used was set in stone. Not anymore […]
Industry News
Don’t miss the RCI Show in Coventry on the 27-28 January 2016.
The second instalment of this unique event brings together over 130 exhibitors from across the roofing industry, giving a unique opportunity to see first-hand all the latest ideas and innovations the industry has to offer. […]
Competence Builds Confidence
The CompetentRoofer scheme is a Government – licenced Competent Person programme that allows roofers to self-certify their own roof refurbishment work as compliant with the Building Regulations in England and Wales. […]
Swim, cycle & run to the finish line
Next year sees the 10th anniversary since our very own Roofing Racers first dipped their toes in the world of the London triathlon. Are you up for the challenge? […]
High standards
To maintain high standards of workmanship, sound business practice is essential for giving confidence to homeowners and roofing contractors alike. […]
ONE Roof. ONE Name. ONE Warranty.
Wouldn’t it be great to offer your customers a warranty that covers all the key elements of the roof in one simple package for no extra cost? Well SIG Roofing’s ONE Warranty allows you to do just that. […]
Pitched Roofing
Complete product confidence with SIG Assured
You may have noticed that the construction industry is moving extremely quickly. With new products coming into the market each week and legislation evolving at a dizzying pace, it can be tough to keep on top of everything. […]
Cracking the BS 5534:2014 code
On 1st March 2015, changes to the British Standards Code of Practice for Slate and Tiling, BS 5534:2014, came into effect for all roofing, meaning that all contracts have had to comply with the new regulations. […]
Innovation for you with Innofix
It’s always nice to hear good news, so the recent figures from the Home Builders Federation are particularly welcome. Their ‘Housing Pipeline’ report shows that for the first time since 2008, planning permission granted for residential developments involving 10 or more units has exceeded 200,000. […]
Going solo with Solofix
As we’ve already seen, the revised BS 5534:2014 – the Code of Practice for Slating and Tiling – has led to a significant increase in the requirement for clipping. Another handy new product to help contractors implement the more stringent fixing requirements of the new code. […]
Concreting compliance
To achieve a compliant and quality roof, it’s essential to use quality ridges. After all, if you use a poor product, it’s unlikely to hold up against the full force of British weather for very long. A well-made, properly installed ridge, on the other hand, will stand the test of time. And whichever ridge you choose, it has to work properly alongside your chosen tile material. That’s where TIL-R Concrete Ridge Tiles come in. […]
Keeping super dry
One of the main changes to the BS 5534:2014 Standard is that mortar can no longer be used as a standalone fixing for roof tiles. As a result, contractors are aiming to use less mortar and are seeking alternative products that deliver a quality finish quickly and effectively. […]
The extreme rules!
Extensions and loft conversions are popular and cost-effective alternatives to moving house, providing an ongoing source of work for many roofers. How, when working to the new Standards of BS 5534:2014, can we make the most of these opportunities? […]
DuPont™ Tyvek® is cast as a star performer in Poldark country
On a rugged rise overlooking the windswept bay of Sennen Cove, Cornwall, stands a 19th Century two-storey stone built cottage. The inspiring and beautiful setting makes it an ideal haven, but years of exposure to the fury of the Cornish elements had taken its toll. Complete renovation was required. […]
A good lead
Lead use in construction is almost as old as construction itself! This is not surprising when you consider it’s widespread, easy to extract, easy to work with, highly malleable and easy to smelt. And it’s also really, really good! […]
Take care with copper
The most recent edition of BS 5534:2014 now requires all slates and tiles to be fully fixed, using increased amounts of nails and/or clips. While this requirement will undoubtedly make our roofs safer and stronger, the team at SR Timber has pointed out that the batten choice is key to the longevity of these fixings. […]
Quality assurance through the ages with natural slate
As one of the world’s oldest roofing materials, natural slate adorns many of our historic buildings. The benefits of using natural slate have been well known since Roman times, with evidence of slate roofing in Wales as early as the 2nd century. […]
Are you getting enough fibre?
Roofing contractors are always on the lookout for products that will save them time and money. They want to use products and materials that are low cost, easy to install and create the right finish, first time, every time, thereby reducing the risk of call backs. Here’s how fibre cement slates deliver… […]
All about eaves
What makes the perfect eaves product? Value for money? Ease of installation? High quality? Or a combination of all three? Aluminium eaves systems offer this trio of benefits in abundance. After all, there’s a reason naval frigates, aeroplanes and space ships are made from the stuff. […]
Flat Roofing
DATAC contractors have the edge
Since it was established in 2009, the SIG Design And Technology Accredited Roofing Contractors Scheme (DATAC) has supported quality roofing companies by building trusted networks and guaranteeing installations. […]
Beat the chill this winter
Glass-reinforced polyester resin (GRP) is an immensely versatile material. Lightweight, inherently strong and, of course, weather-resistant […]
Let there be light
Extensions to existing buildings provide a great source of business for roofing contractors, offering opportunities for both flat and pitched roof specialists […]
Turn tricky jobs into quicker jobs!
On any flat roofing job, the likelihood is you’ll come up against a whole host of challenges. So, it makes sense to be as prepared as possible when it comes to products and processes within your control. […]
Quicker solutions for your flat roof project
Finding efficient working methods to ensure projects are completed on time and to budget is more important than ever. If it saves you time, does a great job and stops you getting called back, then it’s a winner. Adhesive products do all that and more. […]
Industrial Roofing
Leaving asbestos alone
When the existing asbestos cement roof started to fail at Coleg Cambria, Wrexhams’ higher education college, Filon over-roofing was used to refurbish the Engineering Centre of Excellence […]
Make your industrial life easier
Anybody who’s worked on an industrial roofing project knows just how complex they can be. The number of materials to source, and deliveries to coordinate can be vast […]
Low carb
Concern over our personal and collective ‘carbon footprint’ has grown in recent years as more has become known about the damaging effects of carbon on our environment […]