DPR warning to homeowners after cowboy scam in Derby
DPR Ltd’s roofers would like to warn homeowners in the Leeds, Barnsley, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Pontefract areas of Yorkshire to watch out after complaints from a number of residents in Derby about a cowboy roofer scam.
Cowboy roofer scams are nothing new and there have been many over the years across the whole of the UK. Shows like ‘Don’t get Done, Get Dom’ and DIY SOS has exposed the poor work of some roofers in the past yet it appears some are still on our streets.
Recently in Derby a number of complaints have been made to the local paper claiming there is a spate of roofing scams in the local area and it is believed this is not as isolated incident. As a result, we are warning people to be on the lookout in Yorkshire for similar scams.
According to reports and letters in the Derby Telegraph, one woman said: “A coupe of days ago I answered a knock at my door and was faced by a presentable young man.
“He then proceeded to tell me a story about the state of the ridge tiles on my roof and that he’d noticed them when he’d done a job for my neighbour. He then invited me outside to see for myself.
“I couldn’t see anything wrong and told him so, also that I wasn’t having any issues with rain ingress, and had my own roofer who dealt with any necessary repairs anyway. Across the road, a white Transit van was parked. After they’d driven off, I rang my neighbour to ask if she’d had any repairs done by these people and the answer was no.”
This is not the first time this has been the case. DPR would like to remind you that no professional roofing company will ever knock on your door unless you have called them and that you should never exchange money or be drawn into contract with people who claim such a story.
If you are worried about a roofing scam or someone claims to work for DPR and they do this, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will put your mind at ease and deal with accordingly.
Urgent Works to Dangerous Glass Roof at XL call centre in Batley
DPR Roofing recently undertook urgent glass roof repair work at the XL Call Centre in Batley. The roof on the large commercial offices was in a very poor state and required immediate attention.
After an initial survey to ascertain the seriousness of the poor roof, DPR recommended and were then requested to remove the dangerous glass panel sections which were loose and were before removed a high safety risk, with the potential to fall inside the building.
To do this, DPR had to erect crawler boards for safe roof access and be very careful in the disposal of any of the glass roof sheets.
To eliminate the chance of this happening again, instead of using glass sheets, DPR recommended the following roof repair procedure: The creation of an industrial treated timber structure with GRP sheet roof and flashings. This is guaranteed against leakage for 10 years with life expectancy in excess of 50 years.
To conform to all new standards and to ensure the safety of all workers and staff, all waste is removed from site and disposed of in the correct ways.
DPR Roofing always takes health and safety very importantly too. Therefore during the work and before any work was carried out, our surveyor Darren Rickett made the following suggestions:
• Under no circumstances can persons be present below the work area during works. Falling glass, although unlikely, could prove fatal.
• We must stress that the office area beneath the glass sheet lights (under suspended ceiling) be not used during stormy weather, particularly high winds. We cannot be liable for any glass entry into the offices regardless of weather conditions prior to above works.
DPR are specialist roofing contractors in Yorkshire and specialise in the commercial and domestic markets. Our specialist GRP roof sheets are highly effective roofing materials and can be used in a range of applications.
Should you notice a problem with any of your roof and require urgent or scheduled roof repair work, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
Identifying Roof Problems
DPR Roofing, your local roofing contractor in Barnsley, urges homeowners to check for wear or damage to roofs after the winter months. Experienced roofers DPR advise that a quick, but thorough check on a regular basis can help avoid more serious roof problems. If you are not sure what to look for, DPR recommend calling in the services of a professional roofing company. DPR have over 20 years’ experience in roofing services around the Barnsley area, and are able to carry out prompt, efficient roof repairs. They advise Barnsley homeowners that attending to small repairs on roofs can be more economical in the long term than waiting until more damage has occurred.
The roofing team at DPR advises that everyone in the Barnsley area should check their roof carefully for signs that repairs may be necessary, and recommend using binoculars if necessary. They explain that a roof may have a potential problem even before it begins to leak, and action should be taken early to avoid this more troublesome fault.
Signs Barnsley homeowners should look out for are missing, cracked or damaged slates, or tiles, or damages to flashing. Patches of discolouration on some roof surfaces may also be an indication that the urgent services of a professional roofer are required.
Another possible indicator as to the probable health of your roof is its age – every type of roofing surface material has a projected life span, and if your roof is approaching the limit of its life expectancy, it may pay to be extra vigilant, or arrange a professional survey by local Barnsley roofing company DPR.
If you are in any doubt as to whether your roof is in need of a repair, call Barnsley roofers, DPR, for more advice. DPR advise that it is generally better to repair a damaged roof before a serious leak ensues, so to arrange a first class roof repair anywhere in the Barnsley area, call DPR Roofing, on 01226 920061.
DPR invest in brand new multi-use telehandler
DPR roofing has always been committed to developing our company and providing equipment which will make the jobs of our employees easier. As leading roofing contractors in Yorkshire, we believe excellence comes from progress.
At the beginning of this year, DPR invested in a brand new multi-use telehandler. The Avant 630 from Finland has 150 useful attachments available ranging from a fork lift, loading shovel through to road sweeper, jet washing and snow plough to name just a few.
DPR director Darren Rickett purchased the telehandler for multiple reasons. In a statement he said: "This little power house will be a huge time saver for us on jobs as it travels on our plant trailer and is used for the control of rubble to skips and fork lifting materials up on to scaffolds etc with its huge over 1 tonne lifting ability.
“The added snow plough and yard sweeper means we always have a safe place to work.
He joked that: “The heated seat is a delight to all too, in the cold weather".
It is anticipated that the new purchase will be hugely beneficial for many aspects of DPR Roofing and will work on both domestic and commercial jobs across Yorkshire.
For more information on the range of roofing services we offer in Yorkshire, including flat roof work, felt roofing, emergency roof repairs, commercial roof surveys and much more, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
DPR sponsor local walker in aid of Leeds based St Gemmas Hospice
DPR Ltd are delighted to be sponsoring Jane Oddy from Whittle Jones who is carrying out a sponsored walk in aid of raising funds for the ever caring St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds.
The walk takes place on Sunday 1st March and is held at Temple Newsam and Golden Acre Park.
Everyone at DPR would like to wish Jane well and Managing Director Darren Rickett said "Good luck Jane for your upcoming efforts. It’s a pleasure to sponsor you for such a caring organisation as St Gemma’s."
Jane will be joined on the walk by her pooch Sonny who will be helping her along the way.
DPR are going to support a number of charities across Yorkshire in 2015 as part of our commitment to giving back to the community.
Anybody who would like to support Jane and St Gemma’s Hospice can donate online by clicking on the following link www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Sonny5. If you have ever suffered the upset of cancer in the home with family/friends, you will know full well how hard it is to deal with and any donation, big or small, can go a long way to helping families cope.
DPR Expand Fleet with van number 34
DPR are delighted to announce we have purchased a brand new Mercedes sprinter van. The van is number 34 of our fleet and has become one of our flagship vehicles.
Over the past number of years, DPR has grown in size and stature and this new vehicle will allow us to continue maximising our growth. It is the biggest panel vehicle we have ever purchased, with a internal load length of 5m, and will be used mainly for large commercial work allowing us to remove things from site quicker and easier. It has been bought as an investment for our staff to make their workload easier whilst also allowing us to carry out bigger project work more effectively.
DPR has always been passionate about reducing the impact our vehicles have on the environment and this new vehicle features the very latest in Mercedes Bluetec Technology. According to Mercedes these are “intelligently coordinated measures aimed at a tangible reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.” This is something DPR thought long and hard about when buying the new van and we are delighted with the results.
Already the van has been out and about in Yorkshire as we have been providing work for Finlays Beverages, Unity Housing and XL Joinery Manufacturers. Everyone is delighted with the purchase and all the team have looked forward to using the new van each week. In fact they seem to get to work earlier to try and nab it before anyone else does.
DPR has always been committed to the development and quality of our team and this new purchase shows our dedication to providing high quality roofing services in Yorkshire (Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford). For more information on the commercial and domestic services we provide, please call us today on 0800 4587751.
Pictured is DPR dog Ted checking out our new addition to the team.
Companies must follow new CE guidelines
DPR Roofing, Barnsley, supports new government requirements for mandatory display of CE markings on steel used within the construction industry. Such safeguards can only be good for the consumer, and DPR Roofing, a leading provider of roofing services within the Barnsley area, are committed to offering the very best in reliable professional roof repairs. Steve Russell, senior client advisor for BM TRADA, a prominent provider of certification, inspection, testing, and compliance services for the steel industry, has issued a statement warning contractors that Trading Standards departments are “now looking for companies to demonstrate their compliance with the CPR (Construction Products Regulation)”.
Legislation passed in July 2014 makes it mandatory for manufacturers and fabricators to put a CE mark on structural steel components and steel frames for use in the construction industry. This will require compliance with BS EN 1090 part 1 execution of steel structures and aluminium structures and part 2 technical requirements for steel structures. Clearly, this places a legal obligation on steel manufacturers and fabricators to comply with current government standards for steel. Certification from a suitable firm such as BM TRADA is required.
Barnsley roofing company, DPR, welcomes these controls on steel producers, which will ensure the materials used by roofers in Barnsley meet the same high standards as those demanded throughout the UK. These are the high standards of materials and workmanship that DPR roofing has long been committed to offering in Barnsley as part of the portfolio of premium roofing services available from DPR throughout the Barnsley area.
Anyone looking for the services of a reliable and professional roofer in Barnsley should now ensure that their contractor of choice is familiar with these new steel regulations. Local Barnsley roofers, DPR, are pleased to assure their loyal customers that they stand wholeheartedly behind these new government initiatives to protect the safety of consumers and drive standards of steel production up to a level where the end user can be confident in the quality of steel used in roofing. DPR roofing routinely uses steel which meets current government standards of quality, whether for a new roof, or for roofing repairs in the Barnsley area.
When choosing a company to provide roofing services in Barnsley, you can be assured that DPR roofing meets the challenge of new regulations with enthusiasm, and works tirelessly towards the goal of providing the very best in roofing services in Bransley. If you are looking for a roofer in the Barnsley area, therefore, you can do no better than call DPR Roofing on 01226 920061 to experience a first class professional roofing service for yourself.
Changes to workers parental rights
There are to be two new changes coming into force in April which will help working parents. These two changes have been brought about by government initiatives to consider family-friendly regulations within the workplace.
At DPR Roofing, roofing specialists in Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Barnsley and Pontefract, we believe following the principles to great a happy working environment, and this includes making sure our employees are comfortable with their work and family life balance. We welcome the new changes which are going to come into place for our roofers. From the 5th of April the following will be enforced:
Parental leave
Parental leave, which currently is unpaid and extends only up to the child’s fifth birthday will extend until they are 18 years old. (To be eligible you must have completed one year’s services with DPR Roofing). The new rules allow parents to take up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave before the child’s 18th birthday. This can either be straight after the birth, after any maternity or paternity cover or just as they wish. All that is stated is that 21 days’ notice must be given. You should also take blocks of a week or weeks off rather than just the odd day here and there and you can only take a maximum of four weeks a year.
Shared parental leave
The second change is that shared parental leave is to come into force from April 5th too. This means that employees have the right to request shared parental leave and pay. Basically you can share the 52 weeks mother’s entitlement to maternity leave. Both parents can submit to the employer however the employer could ask that the blocks are shared on a monthly basis, rather than one employee taking six months then the second taking six months too.
Even if a couple opt for SPL, a birth mother must still take at least two weeks leave following the birth of a child. Fathers can also take two weeks statutory parental leave and pay in addition to any shared parental leave.
DPR roofing has always keen accommodating to the needs of our employees and welcome some of these changes. We believe that providing a high quality roofing service, which includes roof repairs and new roofs, starts with happy employees so we are always looking to help our staff.
Construction industry to create over 200,000 jobs by 2019
DPR Roofing has today learnt that the construction sector is to create more than 200,000 jobs by 2019 and is expected to grow at a rate of 2.9% year on year. These finding have been compiled in a report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and attribute the resurgence of confidence on the industry as a major factor for the projected growth.
The CITB released a report a while ago claiming slightly less figures but after reassessing confidence in the sector, they now believe around 44,000 jobs a year will be created.
Speaking about the results they had found, CITB chief Exec Mr Belton said: "New jobs are required not just to deliver on growing order books, but also to deliver a step change in costs and delivery times. These additional jobs – 224,000 according to this report – will be pivotal in driving our industry forward."
The same report also highlighted that for the first time since 2007, there will be growth delivered in housing, leisure and infrastructure in 2015. The percentage growth will be slightly different in each area of the UK but there should be considerable and noticeable growth right here in Yorkshire, with rough estimates showing around 2.3% growth.
DPR are excited by this news and have ourselves invested heavily in our roofing and surveying team in the past 12 months and will continue to do this in the next 12 months. We hope this optimism continues.
Prime minister pledges to help roofers
2015 is a big year for David Cameron as the general election takes place and it appears he is trying get roofers on board. Already this year has been the roofing college but now in his latest attempt to win voters he is pleased to support roofers and other trades in his new ‘Job Factory of Europe’ economy ideas
Speaking at a party conference in Ipswich, the Prime Minister outlined all the recent changes that happen and the new strength of the economy: Cameron said: “After a tough few years, we have a good record of getting people into work - 1,000 jobs every day this Government has been in office. We’ve created more jobs here in Britain than the rest of the European Union combined.
"I hope people will stick with this plan. We haven’t solved all our country’s economic problems, but the plan is working. We are getting Britain back to work and increasingly with those jobs people can see a better living standard, better security for themselves and their families.
One of the other things David Cameron really wants to push hard is the apprenticeship scheme and hopes to have 3 million apprenticeships in his new plan. The five key points are outlined below:
• Continue getting British people back to work by controlling immigration and delivering a robust welfare system for EU migrants;
• Encourage enterprise and support small business, keeping jobs taxes low and cutting red tape;
• Invest in infrastructure to attract business and good jobs across the whole of the UK;
• Reward work, help people into a job and lower the benefit cap;
• Create three million new apprenticeships.
If this is the case this is great news for roofers like ourselves in Leeds and Bradford. The telegraph newspaper claimed that: “Mr Cameron’s call to “builders and roofers” is likely to be seen as a direct plea to traditional Labour voters snubbed last year”. If these plans go ahead this will enable DPR Roofing to continue to provide a professional service. With support from the government our locally based roofers will be able to improve their training and obtain better skills to provide a more professional quality service for our customers.
We will keep an eye out on any changes that happen and look forward to Mr Cameron’s ideas being further elaborated on in the next few weeks.