Blog Post

WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE AN NFRC CONTRACTOR

  • By CLS Roofing
  • •
  • 21 Feb, 2019
  • •

It goes without saying that the roof over your head is one of the most important parts of your home, protecting you and your possessions from the elements. Whether you need a repair, a new roof, or are replacing an existing roof, using an NFRC member contractor to carry out the work will give you peace of mind, as well as a weatherproof roof.

NFRC

FOR HIGH STANDARDS

To ensure that NFRC contractors offer the highest standards in workmanship and customer service, all member contractors are rigorously vetted before joining NFRC and every three years thereafter.

A roofing contractor must meet the following vetting criteria:

  • A satisfactory trading record, including financial stability
  • Inspections of past contracts to verify quality craft skills and technical competence
  • Satisfactory public, employers’ and third party insurance cover
  • Compliance with Health and Safety Legislation
  • Compliance with the NFRC Code of Practice as well as British and European Standards
  • Compliance with the Government-endorsed TrustMark scheme (for domestic contracts), of which NFRC is an approved scheme operator, set up to help the general public find reputable tradesmen to carry out work on their home.

FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Free technical advice is available from NFRC to customers of NFRC member contractors. NFRC supplements this service with a comprehensive series of technical publications to support both member contractors and their customers.  ​

FOR PEACE OF MIND

For added peace of mind, NFRC provides a range of warranties for its members through Quality Assured National Warranties (QANW). Warranties are available for large repairs, refurbishment and new roofs. All works are subject to underwriting criteria and participation is subject to contractor registration with Warranty Services Ltd trading as QANW. They can be for domestic, commercial and industrial properties. The time period is typically 10 years.

Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBGs)

In the event that a contractor participates in the QANW NFRC warranty programme (please check with your contractor or QANW*) the roofing contractor agrees to guarantee his work for an agreed time period, say 10 years, the materials are also guaranteed for 10 years and the contract is underwritten by the insurance company QANW, producing cover for the 10 year period. IBGs are used for domestic, commercial and industrial roofs.

Notes: Domestic Warranties – The materials can be sourced from any reputable supplier but we urge members to use our associate members wherever possible. It is possible to re-use existing material; these cannot be covered under the insurance only the workmanship.

For Commercial and Industrial Contracts – The materials must be from an supplier member source.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO HAPPEN WHILST THE NFRC CONTRACTOR IS ​ON SITE?

  • The contractor should give a guide on the time to be taken – but this may vary due to bad weather, or if extra work outside the original estimate has to be done.
  • The contractor will try to keep the work site clean but space for storage and a skip may be required.
  • Scaffolding is likely to be erected and must be out of bounds to children and any other unauthorised persons.

WHAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?

If there is a defect after the work has been completed, you should follow these steps:

  • You contact the contractor and clearly explain what the problem is and ask them to inspect their work, and if necessary carry out remedial works.
  • If you don’t receive a response, contact them again in writing and clearly explain the issues, and ask them to inspect the work.
  • If this does not work, you can contact the Regional Manager for your area, in writing, and implement the NFRC complaints procedure.
https://www.nfrc.co.uk/why-you-should-choose-an-nfrc-contractor

How Will the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme Work?

By CLS Roofing Specialists Ltd • February 26, 2021

THE GREEN HOMES GRANT  is a government scheme to give householders a voucher of £5000 to get energy saving home improvement work done.

Towards the end of August 2020 homeowners in England can apply for vouchers worth up to two thirds of the cost of hiring tradespeople.

IMPORTANT: ALL Work must be completed by TrustMark registered businesses only, which have also achieved PAS2030 2017 or higher certification.

Those on lower incomes can apply for a 100% grant up to £10,000.

The vouchers will be issued from the end of September 2020 and will be available until the end of March 2021.

more information available from  https://www.gov.uk/apply-green-homes-grant

Why it’s important to repoint your chimney

By CLS Roofing Specialists • June 20, 2019

If you have noticed gaps in the mortar of your chimney’s brickwork or stonework, then you might want to consider getting it repointed. This involves filling in and repairing the joints, so that your chimney can continue to be as attractive, secure, functional and long-lasting as possible. Whether you own a period property with an original chimney stack, or a modern home with a contemporary-style chimney, repointing is an important part of your property’s upkeep, and should be carried out by a roofing professional. Here are some of the benefits of investing in repointing services for your chimney as part of your roofing maintenance.

Your chimney will last longer

Mortar joints can generally last for about 25 years, and, during this time, they have to endure constant changes in temperature and weather – from wind, ice and rain to extreme heat. Over time, this causes the mortar to dry out and crumble. Bricks, though, can last for more than 100 years. As such, repointing your chimney with new mortar means that you can extend its lifetime significantly, and make the most of the existing brickwork.

Save money in the long term

By repointing your chimney as soon as you notice any cracks, gaps or crumbling, you can spare yourself the hassle and expense of costly repairs further down the line. In the most extreme case, a chimney that has weak joints might collapse, meaning you have to invest in getting the entire feature replaced, as well as repairing any damage that it caused.

Ensure your chimney is completely secure

As the above scenario shows, a chimney that has crumbling or damaged mortar can pose a risk to the safety of your family and anybody walking past your property. By repointing your chimney, you can ensure it is completely secure and that there is no risk of it falling down or collapsing in high winds or storms.

Make sure your roof is waterproof

After your chimney has been repointed, a waterproof sealant is applied to the joints so that no moisture can get into the mortar. As well as protecting the joints, this ensures that unwanted water cannot enter your property, reducing the risk of damp patches on your ceilings.

Keep your chimney looking beautiful

Crumbling mortar can make your property look unkempt. Indeed, if your chimney is a period style, it might mean that you start to lose definition in its design. Repointing has many functional benefits, but it is also important for ensuring your chimney looks neat, presentable and attractive, and is a great way to bring out the distinctive details of your chimney. 

Flat Roofing Bishops Stortford 

By CLS Roofing Specialists • May 2, 2019
Flat Roofing Bishops Stortford - Rubberbond EPDM

Working at Height

By CLS Roofing • February 22, 2018
As members of the NFRC we follow their guidelines which recommends that fully boarded independent scaffolding extending to the full perimeter of the building, including extended lifts at gables is the most effective method of achieving compliance with the regulations.
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