Page 3 - Under The Roof Avonside Group staff newsletter - November 2018
P. 3
UNDER THE ROOF
to whom do they flow? peace of mind to both client and occupier.
As a Group that sits across both The process with tile manufacturers is
Residential tiled roofs and more Commercial often less robust and tends to be a
flat roofing installations it is also interesting retrospective and reactionary situation which
to compare the manufacturers’ approach, does not benefit any party within the supply
especially with regard to System Warranties. chain, and usually rests with the installer to
So, who actually derives benefit from a pick up the cost of correction and call back
Manufacturers Specification? The – which can be ineffective and costly.
Manufacturer, obviously who achieves Let me be clear, I am not talking about
broader product adoption across tiles and compliance to British Standards here which
accessories in return for a warranty that gives are an absolute must, but in a way what we
both client and occupier peace of mind when are looking at is the fragmentation of those
using those branded products – or do they? standards by individual manufacturers, in
Invariably, any problems with order that they can gain commercial
residential roofing will involve post advantage – fair enough, but it again prompts
installation Manufacturer inspection which the question – who else benefits?
usually comes back to the installing It might be argued that the tying in of
contractor for an indiscretion on fixing in line complete systems from one source may stifle
with Manufacturer instructions – sometimes innovation and raise costs to the client
real, sometime not. Does this benefit the without there being a performance
installer? improvement to support this added and
Another ‘benefit’ for the client is that, in hidden cost.
return for specifying a particular system and Furthermore, as an installer of many
offering volume, they will receive thousands of roofs per year, you might
advantageous commercial arrangements in expect me to question the value of a
return – but it may be that key components Manufacturer’s Warranty that does not
of a system specification could be procured include workmanship. Surely the answer is
more cost effectively elsewhere that might an end-to-end warranty on an installed roof
outweigh the upfront benefit. that covers both materials and workmanship,
Where a System Warranty is in place, it with each party underpinning its own
is interesting to note the contrasting contribution and securing a fair market price
approaches of ‘Flat’ Roofing manufacturers as for their offering to be available on a far
opposed to Tiling manufacturers. wider basis than currently exists?
The former category has a rigorous As I said at the outset of the article, I
process of staged inspection and sign off that encourage the open questioning of the status
highlights any irregularities whilst the quo, and in this area, there are a number of
contractor is in situ and therefore able to interesting aspects that would benefit from
correct any issues whilst engaged in the further questions and debate. If we can get
contract. Once signed off and recorded by all interested parties to participate I believe
the manufacturer, the contractor has some we can improve our overall offer to the
protection based upon the standard and market and each take responsibility for our
quality of the work completed. Moreover, the activity within the supply chain, whilst
client then has a warranty that covers both delivering a better, more competitive offer to
materials and workmanship, thus giving real our client base.
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