Poor leadwork from Checkatrade member

Just had to completely replace lead to a chimney which had previously been done by a Checkatrade member.
Customer had complained to Checkatrade nothing was done.
We have replaced all the leadwork, repaired damage they caused to underlay and provided the correct tiles.
I sent photos of the previous repairs to Checkatrade again completely ignored.
I wonder how these Roofers are still members!

BEFORE:

 

AFTER

 

 

Roofing Repairs

Just don't understand how some people call themselves Roofers
Photos below show a repair job done in the Camberley area in the last couple of weeks
How do these people sleep, it would have ben easier to replace the tiles!
Silicone and Polyfilla, YES THEY GOT PAID

Scammers are in the area claiming to be from us

Scammers are in this area making out they are from Tradecall Roofing somehow giving out my mobile number.

Please note we do not knock on doors for work

We will always provide a written quote sent by email or by post, not on a scrap of paper

All work will be invoiced and you can pay by cheque or credit/debit card /bank transfer

We would never ask for cash

Our vans are sign written with telephone numbers.

If you are approached by anyone in a white Transit van looking for roofing work and saying they are from Tradecall Roofing Camberley, please phone the police.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROOF COATING IS IT WORTH THE MONEY

Below you can find a selection of quotes and links to articles written by the press, government bodies and on web forums. Some of these links refer to specific companies or rogue traders while other articles refer to the products and how useless they often are:

12 Month Prison Sentence for Director of Roof Coating Company

Company Director and Salesman are both sentenced to 12 months in prison. After the court case, Herefordshire Council’s head of consumer and business protection, Mike Pigrem, said:

I believe this is a landmark case exposing the ‘roof coating scam’ which has taken hold in the UK over the last decade…..In our opinion there is no doubt that moss causes no damage whatsoever to tiles and the roof coating process is a wholly unnecessary treatment.

Source: Herefordshire Council Website

Hereford County Council Warning

Herefordshire Council’s principal trading standards officer, Tim Thorne, said:

Cold calling for roof coating services is one of the biggest scams to have swept the UK in recent years. Moss does not damage your roof and should never be washed off in this way. Painting the tiles serves no useful purpose whatsoever and the whole process is simply unnecessary work.

Source: Herefordshire Council Website

Derbyshire Trading Standards Warning

Here is an extract from the Derbyshire Trading Standards team:

 Roof tiles are designed to allow air to circulate in the roof space, so simply painting the tiles will provide no benefit to your homes’ thermal efficiency.  In addition, the use of high-pressure hoses to clean the roof can actually damage tiles and force water in to the roof space.

Source: Derbyshire Trading Standards

Warickshire Trading Standards Warning

This article contains information about a specific roof coating scammer, but also contains the following advice:

Roofing experts warn that roof tiles should not be subject to high-pressure washing. To do so can potentially damage or break the tiles and remove any aesthetic granular tile finish. Further, pressure washing can also force water between the tile and roofing felt, spraying water in to the roof space/loft.

Source: Warickshire Trading Standards

Telegraph and Daily Mail Newspaper Articles

Article in the Telegraph newspaper written by Jeff Howel, great info on the tricks some coating companies use.
Daily Mail article about how a group of scammers painted roofs red and conned £250,000 from elderly people.

National Federation of Roofing Contractors Warning

Here is a press release from the NFRC:

Most ‘techniques’ that we have come across to remove moss, are often achieved by ‘violent’ means such as power-washing, which may cause damage to the roof, especially when combined with unnecessary foot traffic often leading to cracked or broken roof tiles.

More information can be found here.

BBC Rogue Traders Programme

BBC Rogue Traders investigation into a roof coating company charging high fees for a useless product. Note how the company flooded the loft space by using pressure washers on the roof. You can read my article on why a roof should never be pressure washed.

Aquashield Customer

Article written by a disgruntled Aqushield customer, includes photos showing how the roof coating washed off in the rain.

Roofing in Camberley Surrey

Like any other tradesmen, it’s often complex and confusing when selecting the correct company to fix or renew your roof, particularly the variation in costings from one roofer or roofing company to the next. So, how do you know you’re getting a good roofing company? That they can be trusted, know what they’re doing, will do it on time and look after your peace of mind as well as your property?
The costs can be poles apart for the same job with the same materials from different companies, so here’s out handy guide to choosing the best roofing company:

• Get three estimates for the same work with the same materials.
• Find out how long each business has been established and their roofing credentials/membership of professional bodies.
• Be specific about the job when asking for a quote.
•  Make sure the quotes include everything that needs done and there are no ‘extras’  - or at least make sure they inform you IN WRITING that extras may have to be added and what they are for.
• What about service after the work has been done?
• Do not be afraid to ask questions. It’s your house and property. If something is niggling you about their work, estimate, materials, timescales, ask them. If they don’t have a good answer, don’t hire them.
• Ask about their health and safety policy – is there one?
• Look for the contractors’ public profile. Are they members of professional bodies? Do they have testimonials from other clients? Proper signage on vans? What other work have they undertaken? Check the internet for anything about them on websites and forums.

It all comes down to trust in the end. So, if in doubt, don’t hire!

 

 

 

Pretty good advice you would think! but does anyone really take any notice

 

Saturday morning 3 men pulled up at my neighbours' in Camberley Surrey knocked on the door asked if he wanted his hedge cut they were there 20 mins cutting the hedge looked ok I suppose and I assume he paid them and the were on their way with a bit of cash in their hand.

 

I got a phone call from my wife around 9 on Monday morning someone is up on the neighbours roof stripping of tiles, no scaffold no handrail just off ladders, I was only local to Camberley so I went home to have a look, the gardeners from Saturday were now roofers I asked what the were planning and they  told me they were doing the fascia's as all the wood was rotten I asked if they were aware that the soffit boards were asbestos based I then got a load of verbal abuse.

 

Who should this be reported to I thought?

Trading Standards, HSE, Environmental Health , Local Council, Citizens advice

 

Well I tried to contact them all  and got absolutely nowhere

And who pays their wages the general public for no service whatsoever 

 

So carry on lads its perfectly ok to work off ladders, strip out asbestos cement soffits rip people off because no one cares at all.

 

I pay thousands in Public Liability Insurance, Use a scaffold, take notice of HSE guidelines, Licenced to carry any waste I produce, Pay fees every month to several trade associations, and pay tax and insurance to HMRC 

 

WHY DO I BOTHER

 

Thinking about getting a caravan few ladders go knocking on peoples doors I'll be driving round in a Bentley in no time