I recently read an article published in the Consumer Watchdog Magazine by the Property Care Association raising awareness of the pitfalls homeowners may face when trying to save money by diagnosing and undertaking specialist remedial repairs themselves.
These days it’s possible for almost anyone to trawl the internet reading articles, publications and blogs on how to repair flood damage buildings, floors or dampness and even to find willing suppliers of chemical treatment products for use.
Obviously the ease of such information can create the false impression that such repairs do not need the intervention of a “specialist” who after all, will only charge an extortionate amount of money for the repair and provide them with a worthless guarantee.
Unfortunately the preservation industry has been exposed to such condemnation, which is easy to see when you look at how the industry is so diversely split.
At the top end, we have the professionals and elite of the industry recognised by the Property Care Association and TrustMark Accreditation logos. These are people and companies who have industry recognised qualifications and are at the forefront of repair and treatment. PCA members also meet a number of strict criteria to ensure they meet required industry standards including, qualified surveyors and workforce. Companies are also audited on a regular basis to assure their high standards of workmanship and diagnosis are maintained.
At the other end of the scale there are builders and handymen who’s standards and procedures are neither vetted nor regulated by no-one. Although almost anyone is capable of purchasing remedial products for treatment, the power to purchase does not imply an ability to apply or install correctly, after all, I could by a helicopter tomorrow if I wanted, but it doesn’t mean I would be capable of flying it.
Further more these companies have created the hype which have given the industry such a bad name over past years with false consumer protection stirred by manufacturer “backed guarantees”. The wording of such guarantee documents simply deludes customers into thinking they are protected and that the company issuing the guarantees is comparable to a PCA Professional.
Remember the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has only approved long-term guarantees for up to 20 years. Therefore if you have been offered a thirty year guarantee this is NOT official insurance and likely to be ‘Insurance backed’ by a manufacturer. Insurance guarantees will also include Insurance Premium Tax (IPT), If you are not paying IPT it’s not insurance.
Back on the subject of DIY treatments, whilst attending a recent structural repair survey on a property in York, I became slightly nauseous and overwhelmed by a strong and irritable odour. When I queried the smell with the client, I was informed after having three companies provide quotations for woodworm treatments on the third floor between £300.00 – £500.00 pounds they had decided to treat the floor themselves with a product bought from a local DIY store.
The product they were using was a spirit based insecticide containing permethrin as its active ingredient, a synthetic neurotoxin which affects the central nervous system causing death of insects upon contact.
They had brush applied this extremely flammable chemical to the surface of the floor without ventilating the property or wearing any form of protective clothing or equipment to safe guard their health.
After donning a face mask and inspecting their handy work and the severity of the infestation out of shear curiosity, I was astonished by the quantity of fluid they had applied.
Not wanting to offend, I queried how they would effectively treat the rest of the floor? The treatment they used was applied to the floors surface only, which was in-fact varnished and almost incapable of absorbing fluid leaving puddles behind evaporating and intoxicating the atmosphere.
Beyond the surface of the floor boards, there is a void, incorporating the structural floor timbers, underside of the floor boards and timber latts from the original ceiling below. How do did they propose to treat the floor structure evenly and effectively using only a surface applied treatment.
The answer is, they can’t!
In an attempt to save money, these homeowners applied vast quantities of an unknown and dangerous chemical (to them at least) on an unprepared floor which in turn will have limited effectiveness, if any. They ignored manufactures instructions, regarding their own health and safety but that too of their pets and children who at the time were luckily out of the property, not to mention the fire risk they had created.
Whilst permethrin is a common and widely used insecticide even amongst professionals, its properties can cause side effects in humans and is known to be extremely toxic to cats, fish and other aquatic life. Even borates another commonly used insecticide/fungicide has recently been reclassified by the European Parliament and Council as R60 – May impair Fertility and R61 – May cause harm to the unborn child.
As the scientific community progresses with research and new regulations are endorsed to safeguard our health, chemical treatments and risks are re-evaluated and sometimes what prior was considered safe now carries additional warnings.
Personally I think it is foolish to apply vast quantities of an unfamiliar chemical in your home especially without reading the manufactures institutions.
As professionals we ensure that only the most effective and safest treatments are used and applied in a controlled and effective manner. We are upto date with all the latest legislation and regulation changes and all products we use have been approved for use by the HSE.
If your in need of repair, don’t gamble call the professionals, Dryfix Preservation Ltd, “Yorkshires Leading Damp & Timber Specialists” 01904 791388 / www.dryfix.net
