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Improving the Appearance of Your Car Showroom

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Car Showroom - Kia Motors

Car manufacturers invest a vast amount of time, effort and money into ensuring their branding of vehicles appeals to the public, it is therefore important that the showrooms reflect this high standard. This is particularly important because customers take their time choosing cars and will not purchase lightly. 

People in the industry know that if metal items have an immaculate finish then the public are much more likely to step into the showroom. If the metallic architecture of the interior matches the high quality of the outside of the building then the customers will trust and buy the brand. 

What metal items can be spray painted in your car showroom to improve the appearance?

  • Car showroom walls are often cladding and this metal can be restored with a fresh coat of paint following thorough preparation in order to make them look attractive.
  • Dealerships invariably have a large amount of glass so that vehicles can be viewed through these large expanses of curtain walling. The metal framework securing the glass in place should be maintained properly not only for the sake of appearance but also to prevent the substrate from corroding.
  • Dealerships usually have sliding or revolving entrances and they sometimes have canopies above them with signage fascias that may all need recoating.
  • Sliding doors that enable vehicles to be moved in and out of the showroom.
  • Metal fire exit doors.
  • Stairs are commonly part of the interior in a car dealership, so the underside of the stairs should be aesthetically pleasing as well as the treads, balustrades and handrail.
Car showroom - Jaguar

All of this metalwork needs refurbishing from time to time not just to maintain the integrity of the building, but possibly for a colour change due to rebranding. Any type of metal can be rejuvenated and if a whole showroom is being rebranded or generally refurbished then all the metalwork can be restored; this includes furniture. 

Elevation coatings have worked in car showrooms before and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have if you are looking for help with this service. 

Treating Cut Edge Corrosion & Paint Spraying Metal Roof Sheets

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Treating Cut Edge Corrosion & Paint Spraying Metal Roof Sheets

Paint Spraying Steel Roofs

You have a very important challenge of maintaining the contents of your industrial unit. Whether you own that facility, have the responsibility for maintaining it, or both, it represents an important element for your business. You also present yourself as a liability if neglected, which can be costly. Protecting that investment is your roof, which attracts little attention until leaks, corrodes or colour fades.

Roofing Failure

365 days a year your industrial roof is exposed to the elements such as weather, sun, pollution and rain. All of which take their toll on its metal surface and normally resulting in corrosion if the right precautions are not taken.


The effects of corrosion will cause the roof to corrode and allow entry for water into your structure over the course of time. Corrosion will also wear through the sheet steel, causing it to become very weak, perforated, to leak, and eventually need replacement. The results of the roof area failing will cause costly damages to you and your operation if not treated with a spray and corrosion treatment. Elevation coatings provide an audited roof inspection and advise on the entire process going to forward to offer up to a 10-25-gear guarantee. We provide a PDF audit file for every step of the way and also get all works signed off with the paint manufacturer so the guarantee offered is backed up.


Roof Sealing & Refinishing

Roof Sealing & Refinishing

Elevation coatings have many years of experience providing gutter and roof refurbishment across the UK. Utilising systems that are designed to encapsulate the roof and stop damaging corrosion, we can extend the life of your roof for years to come. We offer a free quotation with a detailed site report, we also recommend the best-value solutions for you going forward. We have numerous systems to offer such as Giromax, HD Sharman, Seamsil to name a few. However, we will happily go off any desired scope if needed.


We also have alternative options if a roof is experiencing signs of corrosion but no leaks have been detected. One option is to treat the affected areas with an epoxy primer to stop the corrosion. Before application, we make sure we can grind out the rust prior to primer application. We then spray finish with various durable paint options for long term aesthetic performance.

If the roof is leaking, a good choice is a system such as Giromax & HD Sharman roof coating system. They are designed to encapsulate the roof, bridging all gaps to provide an extended life for the roof. They also offer full gutter refurbishment systems that can offer 10-25 year guarantees. These coatings provide excellent waterproofing performance when combined with sealing the seams and entry points of the roof with the appropriate accompanying systems.


At a small fraction of the cost of replacement, these types of restoration systems are selected by clients as an effective and cost-efficient alternative to complete replacement.

Rooflight Refurbishment.

We have a wide variety of systems available which provide a 10-year lifespan on roof lights. The clear elastomeric coating provides a tough durable finish with excellent retention in weather-resistant properties. Elevation coatings can also provide roof light replacement services. Again, free site surveys are offered nationwide and a full health and safety program will be outlined prior to the job commencing.

Why On Site Spraying Is Important

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Why On Site Spraying Is Important

They say that first impressions count and this is as true for commercial buildings as it is for meeting people in person for the first time… and, as such, it’s essential that your premises looks smart and welcoming, a true reflection of the kind of business you’re running.

That’s where on-site spraying can really come into its own. This will keep your premises in perfect condition all year round, protecting it from the elements and ensuring that it always looks its best – no matter what the weather chooses to throw at it.

Shopfronts in particular would benefit from regular maintenance where spraying is concerned since it can help drive footfall, as well as helping you to maintain a consistent brand image… important in helping customers recognise who you are and what you do.

Facades on commercial properties can also be sprayed – and it’s important to remember that this is what is exposed to the elements, so likely to start showing signs of wear and tear at some point in the future.

Where facades are concerned, you can either go for composite cladding panel coatings (which will give you control over the colour and finish) or you could look into sheet cladding coating, although these may be best suited factories and other industrial sites.

If you’d like any further help or advice relating to spraying and how it could benefit you and your business, get in touch with us here at Elevation Coatings today. We have years of experience in this particular field and will be able to answer any queries you may have.

Work Begins On Ipswich’s Unitarian Meeting House

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Work Begins On Ipswich’s Unitarian Meeting House

One of Ipswich’s most significant buildings, and one of the oldest Dissenter chapels in the country, is currently undergoing a £550,000 restoration, with a grant from Historic England covering most of the cost, according to the Ipswich Star.

The 18th century Unitarian Meeting House has been used as a place of worship for 320 years, since opening in 1700, and for the next seven months, its congregation will be moving to a nearby community centre while the building is restored and updated for more modern use, and more events.

As work began on the restoration, Historic England confirmed it would be making a grant for £421,000 for the work, with the church already having raised £20,000, boosting funds with other grants obtained to £125,000. The work will continue until September 2020.

Tessa Forsdike from the church said: “It is wonderful that the work has been able to start. When it is complete we really hope it will be able to be used for more events but we are still raising money to ensure we can install the toilet.” Anyone wanting to support the appeal can donate here.

The rising Dissenter population in Ipswich in the 18th century gave cause for the church to be founded, and is now a Grade 1 listed building, along with its neighbour, the Willis headquarters.

Historic England has been heavily involved in the development of the plans for the project, giving expert fundraising advice, and technical guidance. In December 2018, Historic England awarded £47,477 in development grants to the trustees of the church, which allowed architects to survey the timber frames of the building, the internal and external joinery, all of which was suffering from deterioration due to damp.

The roof also required repair and maintenance, with repairing and replacing missing and broken tiles. The grant of £421,000 covers 71 per cent of the total costs, making Historic England the major contributor to the restoration project, which includes wall and roof covering repairs.

The Unitarian Meeting House had been placed on the Heritage at Risk Register due to the poor condition of the building, from which it will be removed once repairs are completed. Tony Calladine, regional director at Historic England in the East of England said: “We’re delighted to support the repair of the Unitarian Meeting House with this grant.

“It’s one of the finest buildings of its kind in the country, with a remarkable interior, and represents an important part of 18th-century history, both nationally and locally.

“We’re pleased to play our part in repairing this important building and protecting it for future generations to enjoy. It will be a wonderful achievement to see it removed from the Heritage at Risk Register.”

Ann Baeppler, chair of the trustees for the Unitarian Meeting House said: “We have been overwhelmed by the dedicated support given to us by Historic England right from the very start of our approach to them for funding towards our major restoration project, without which the fabric of our unique Meeting House would have continued to deteriorate relentlessly. We are so grateful!”

If you need roofing services in the UK, then get in touch today to see how we can help you.

England’s Village Halls Receive Refurbishment Funding

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England’s Village Halls Receive Refurbishment Funding

Village halls across England have been given a boost last month (January), with the government providing £1.2 million in grants for a total of 21 projects sp far as part of the £3 million Village Halls Improvement Grant Scheme.

This fresh round of funding was announced at the start of Village Halls Week, running from January 20th to 26th, celebrating the services that these fine establishments provide in rural communities.

Refurbishment work is now underway on numerous sites, with repairs including roof work, alterations to toilets and kitchens, and new meeting rooms. Westleton Village Hall in Suffolk, for example, has been given £75,000 to transform its village hall into a warm and inviting community centre, with the building set to be refurbished and a new foyer cafe constructed.

Lord Gardiner, Defra rural affairs minister, said: “Village halls are an essential part of rural life. I am delighted that our grant scheme is helping to refurbish our nation’s village halls, and each and everyone will make a real difference to their communities.

“There can be no doubt that village halls are more important and relevant than ever. Village Halls Week provides a perfect opportunity for people up and down the country to celebrate these wonderful places at the heart of our rural community.”

Refurbishment work can mean anything from cleaning and decorating to retrofitting a site to make it more sustainable and energy-efficient, but it can also mean renovation and restoration work, as well. This could be painting and decorating, extensions, repair work, upgrades, conversions and so on.

This is important and should be maintained over the years because it can significantly extend the life cycle of a building. Take a look around your site with an objective eye and see if there’s any work that could be done in certain areas that might be showing a bit of wear and tear.

Keeping on top of issues, however small they may seem, is certainly wise from a financial perspective because the longer you leave a problem, typically the bigger it becomes – and the bigger the problem, the more expensive it is to sort out.

Older properties in particular can begin to look tired so it might be worth arranging for a dilapidation survey so you can see what repairs – if any – need to take place in order to restore your building to its former glory.

Take a look at some of the case studies on our website to see what we can do, whether it’s on-site paint spraying, air-conditioning repairs, curtain walling, powder coating or something else. Give us a call today to see how we can bring your buildings back from the brink.

Growth Expected For UK Industrial and Logistics Property

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Growth Expected For UK Industrial and Logistics Property

The demand for industrial property, including sites designed to facilitate logistics, will strengthen in 2020 following the uncertainty experienced by the sector last year.

This is among the predictions made by Knight Frank about the prospects for the UK’s property sector in the coming 12 months.

According to the organisation, demand for urban fulfilment centres is expected to increase this year, as a growing number of businesses look for ways to ensure they’re able to deliver orders to customers as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Knight Frank also noted that there was an increase in the stock of industrial properties added to the UK market in 2019, with more new premises in the pipeline and expected to help meet demand in the market.

This means there could be opportunities for those that own industrial properties that are currently empty to find tenants if they ensure the buildings are up to standard.

If your premises is looking a little worse for wear then on site paint spraying could help to give it a boost and make it more appealing to businesses looking for new space.

The trend for retailers seeking warehouse and industrial space was also highlighted by Tim Burden, director at Turley, in a recent interview with Insider Media.

He noted that many retailers have “adopted models based around next day deliver” and as a result there has been a surge in demand for “warehouse space to enable the logistics surrounding last mile services”.

Mr Burden added that places like Cambridge and Oxford are particularly desirable from this perspective, because of their access to motorways which allows businesses to connect easily with customers in many different parts of the UK.

New Calls For Rethink On VAT On Building Repairs

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New Calls For Rethink On VAT On Building Repairs

There are growing calls for the government to rethink how it charges VAT on building repairs and alterations.

Architects’ Journal reported that many in the architecture and construction sectors believe the current system of VAT charging is unfair, because many new construction projects are VAT exempt while repair work is liable for the tax.

It’s an issue that goes back decades, but now there are renewed calls for the government to address the disparity.

Malcolm Fraser, of Malcolm Fraser Architects, told the publication that the current system doesn’t really make sense. “The net effect is very significant economic leverage that encourages the replacement, rather than repair, of our existing building stock,” he asserted.

And he’s not alone in believing that this issue needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. Head of policy and public affairs at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Andrew Forth agrees.

He explained that it’s essential to carry out significantly more retrofitting activity if RIBA’s 2030 Challenge sustainability targets are to be met.

Architects’ Journal is even running a campaign, RetroFirst, to encourage the government to address the issue. The publication argues that there are significant environmental benefits to “reducing the amount of embodied carbon required for new buildings and avoiding wasted resources from demolishing old ones”.

One of the keys to maintaining more buildings is ensuring that repair work is identified early, before the costs become too onerous.

Last month, an article for Insider.co.uk highlighted the importance of regular surveys for old buildings, pointing to one example where a church was able to avoid timber rot after a failing lead roof covering was found during a survey.

Need on site paint spraying at your property? Get in touch with us today.

£700 Million Repair Bill For Yorkshire Hospitals

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£700 Million Repair Bill For Yorkshire Hospitals

Hospitals around Yorkshire are now facing a £700 million repair bill, with a big backlog to work through going back years, with over £50 million now needed for high-risk immediate issues so as to avoid major disruption and safety issues.

Doncaster Royal Infirmary faces the biggest bill for high and serious risk backlog repairs, with more than £54 million needed to address the issue of ageing buildings, the Yorkshire Post reports. The hospital’s leaders recently warned that its position is unsustainable in the long term.

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, meanwhile, has the biggest single hospital bill for all repairs to deal with at £72 million. Across Leeds and Sheffield, the overall cost of all necessary work at main hospitals in both cities will exceed £100 million.

And in Grimsby and Scunthorpe, hospitals need a combined investment of £19 million to deal with a long-term financial crisis that is expected to leave them with a deficit running into the tens of millions of pounds by 2024.

Chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson observed that long-term investment is now needed, instead of a piecemeal approach to the problem.

“The NHS estate and facilities must be fixed and repaired urgently. Crumbling buildings and broken boilers impact patient safety and experience. Trusts have also been unable to access sufficient levels of capital funding to make necessary investments in their buildings, equipment and technology,” he went on to say.

This comes after a recent IPPR report suggested that private finance initiative payments that some NHS trusts make, as well as years of underinvestment, could have implications for patient safety, such as sewage leaks, falling ceilings and safety hazards.

Need help or advice relating to cut edge corrosion systems? Get in touch with us today.

England Schools ‘In Need Of Urgent Repairs’

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England Schools ‘In Need Of Urgent Repairs’

A new investigation has revealed that more than one in six schools across England have buildings that need urgent repairs, with nearly 4,000 such establishments judged by surveyors to require immediate restoration work.

The Guardian analysed information gathered through the Department of Education’s (DfE’s) school condition data collection programme and found that 17 per cent of buildings had elements like windows, roofs and walls that either needed to be replaced or immediately repaired.

It was also found that many schools also didn’t have legally required paperwork, such as fire risk assessments, electrical test certificates or asbestos management plans.

Joint general secretary of the National Education Union Kevin Courtney said the figures show the effects of a lack of investment in educational infrastructure.

He observed: “It makes no sense for important practical documents, required by law, not to be held on the premises of a school or college. The reason the government gives – that they may be held by a multi-academy trust would be laughable if it weren’t so serious. If they are missing how can the risk be safely managed?”

The DfE said that in some instances, paperwork could have been held off site if schools were managed by a multi-academy trust.

In response to the findings, Nick Gibb – schools minister – said the Conservative government has been providing money each year to improve building conditions and more than £1 billion had been made available in this academic year.

Earlier this month (December), the Oxford Mail reported that Windmill Primary School – the largest primary school in Oxfordshire – had to close parts of the building off to students over dilapidation concerns.

Looking for roof coating contractors at the moment? Get in touch with us today.

Crumbling Nottingham Building Poses Danger To Public

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Crumbling Nottingham Building Poses Danger To Public

Some Nottingham residents who have to walk past the former St Luke’s Parochial School in the city centre are concerned for their safety, as the building is at risk of falling down.

The façade of the building, which is located on Carlton Road, has been in a state of disrepair for three months already, reported Nottinghamshire Live.

It was built during the 1860s alongside St Luke’s Church, which was later demolished in 1925 after its walls began to collapse, rendering it unsafe.

A spokesperson from Nottingham City Council told the publication: “We have been liaising with the owner of this property about the need to address the poor state of repair of the building frontage which presents a danger to members of the public.”

They went on to say “urgent action is needed” and the fragile state of the building needs to be “remedied shortly”.

According to locals, the brick structure of the former school is unsafe and on the verge of collapse.

Handyman and decorator David Fairweather, who lives opposite the building, said: “I won’t walk on that side of the road now.”

He added the bricks could “kill someone” following a 35-foot fall, saying: “[The wall] could bounce into the road.”

As a result, he is calling the council to provide an exclusion zone, for the road to be closed off, and some scaffolding to be erected.

This comes after a site survey on Windmill Primary School by Oxfordshire County Council revealed its main building requires major structural work for it to be safe to use.

Oxford Mail revealed some parts of the building have become so dilapidated that “immediate work is needed to ensure structural integrity”, according to the council’s George Eleftheriou.

To find out more about dilapidation refurbishment, give us a call today.

Manchester Industrial Estate Set For Redevelopment

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Manchester Industrial Estate Set For Redevelopment

The Kayley Industrial Estate in Ashton-under-Lyne is set to be refurbished in a project costing £2 million, the Manchester Evening News reported last month.

According to the newspaper, the aim is to create a series of ‘modern’ industrial units to attract new businesses to the site and in the process create new jobs. Tameside planning committee welcomed the proposals when they approved them in November.

It’s hoped that by revamping the buildings on the industrial estate, around 42 new jobs will be created in the area.

As part of the project, AEW Core Property Fund has applied to demolish the existing single-storey building on Richmond Street and replace it with a “modern employment building” that will be divided into seven units.

Speaking to the planning committee, planning agent James Berggren, who is acting on behalf of the developer, said: “All the buildings are in need of redevelopment. The vacancy rates are high because of this.”

Mr Berggren added: “The proposal would create new, fit-for-purpose employment buildings which are well designed and in keeping with the area.”

If you have properties on an industrial estate it can be easy to overlook them in favour of other units in more commercially sensitive areas when you’re considering what work to carry out on your portfolio.

But if your buildings don’t look the part and aren’t maintained to a high standard, you will struggle to attract tenants. Investing in on site paint spraying might be something to consider in the new year if you have industrial units that need sprucing up.

One example of where this works well is at the Larsen Trade Park in Goole, Yorkshire. Here, occupancy is now at almost 75 per cent after the owners invested £4.5 million in refurbishing and redeveloping the estate to attract more local businesses, the Yorkshire Post reported.

Oxfordshire Primary School ‘Needs Urgent Repairs’

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Oxfordshire Primary School ‘Needs Urgent Repairs’

Students at Oxfordshire’s largest primary school have not been able to access part of the building, after it was closed off due to dilapidation concerns.

A council site survey on Windmill Primary School in Headington revealed major structural work is required to the main building, Oxford Mail reported.

As a result, five classes have had to temporarily relocate to other areas of the school, which has 630 pupils, to allow repair work to take place.

Director for property, investment and facilities management at Oxfordshire County Council George Eleftheriou told the news provider: “While no one was in any danger, we concluded that work should take place as soon as possible, to preserve the buildings and repair damage.”

Before half-term, the local authority surveyed the school building and determined major deterioration had occurred.

Mr Eleftheriou went on to say: “Due to their age, some parts have deteriorated to a point where immediate work is needed to ensure structural integrity.”

Temporary classrooms have been set up in the gym, library, and music rooms, while the middle playground is out of bounds to allow builders access to the building.

A Facebook post from the school said the repair work, which is expected to last beyond Christmas, will “ensure the longevity and safety of the buildings long into the future”.

This comes after Great Yarmouth Borough Council revealed it is trying to save a Grade-II listed building from dilapidation, BBC News reported.

The local authority is seeking an investor to repair the building, as it is last seaside Victorian cast iron and glass winter gardens in England, making it incredibly endangered.

For dilapidation services to bring a building back to life, get in touch here.

High Streets See Retail Closures At Five-Year High

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High Streets See Retail Closures At Five-Year High

The UK’s high streets are suffering, with retail closures at a five-year high, new analysis has revealed.

AskTraders analysed data from various sources, revealing that an average of 16 high-street stores closed each day in the UK in the first six months of 2019, while just nine stores opened a day in the same period.

It paints a rather bleak picture for retailers as we move into the busy festive season which traditionally would be a good time for those operating on the country’s high streets.

According to the analysis, Poole in Dorset has the most declining high street in the country. Also in the top five were Blackpool, Warrington, Manchester and Swindon.

Peterborough, meanwhile, was named as the top high street in the UK. The top five in this list also featured Huddersfield, Coventry, Hull and Slough. Many of these locations have bucked the trend and seen an increase in the number of retail stores opening this year.

Steve Miley, senior market analyst at AskTraders, said that the high street will continue to face challenges. “This will be a case of survival of the fittest. Those retailers that can evolve whilst still giving their customers exactly what they want could have a lot to gain,” he asserted.

Making your shop front look appealing is essential if you’re going to draw people in. Investing in on-site paint spraying could be a great way to revamp your retail unit ahead of Christmas.

The Guardian reported that Boris Johnson has unveiled a proposal to pump more money into the UK’s most neglected towns in a bid to help revitalise their high streets and local communities with them.

One Of England’s Most Endangered Buildings Set For Refurbishment

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One Of England’s Most Endangered Buildings Set For Refurbishment

A Grade II listed seafront building in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, one of the most endangered buildings in England, is set to undergo some much-needed refurbishment work in order to save it from falling into dilapidation.

According to the BBC, an investor is now being sought by Great Yarmouth Borough Council to help save the building, which was originally erected in Torquay but then transported to Norfolk and reassembled back in 1904 – apparently without a single pane of glass breaking!

It was moved from Torquay to Yarmouth to, as Historic England explains, “lengthen the season with better class visitors and on wet days to provide for 2,000 persons under cover”. A brick-arched entrance porch was later added for a cloakroom and a maple floor laid down for roller skating.

The site was also used for dancing and concerts, with the interior decorated with flower beds, hanging basket displays and trailing plants, as well as an organ above the entrance at the west end.

It was assigned Grade II listed status because it is the last surviving seaside Victorian cast iron and glass winter gardens in the country, is of great architectural interest thanks to its unusual prominent tiered lantern and decorative treatments on the exterior and interior cast iron frame, and because when it was built it was one of the three biggest cast iron and glass seaside winter gardens in England.

Last year, it was featured as one of the top ten endangered buildings of the Victorian and Edwardian periods by the Victorian Society, as well as being on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.

Council leader Carl Smith said: “We are determined to fix the Winter Gardens and get it back open as an iconic building on the seafront. We’ve got to make it secure, replace the glass and look at the structure.”

It’s not just heritage at risk buildings that need tender loving care from time to time – all buildings will start to show their age unless properly looked after over the years.

Older commercial properties, for example, may well need some help in the near future, so if you’re reaching the end of your tenancy or perhaps moving to a new building, you might want to look for help with dilapidation refurbishment work.

You’ll need to book in for a survey so you can find out what repairs are necessary in order to restore the premises to its former glory. Each part of the site will receive the treatment it needs in order to look as good as new, ready for you to continue using it for years to come.

If you’d like to find out any more about how we can help bring your buildings back from the brink, get in touch with the Elevation Coatings team today.

Clear Up Properties From Autumn Weather

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Clear Up Properties From Autumn Weather

Before we head towards winter, it is a good idea to spend some time looking at the state of our properties to make sure they are in a good enough condition to handle the cold, harsh weather of the season.

Here are some tips on how to resolve any problems left over from autumn in the upcoming weeks.

– Clear out gutters

The recent blistery winds means trees have dropped their leaves by the dozen, clogging up gutters all over the country. However, blocked-up gutters can lead to big problems in the long-run if water cannot flow down them easily, particularly as this season brings lots more rainfall with it too.

Therefore, it is essential to unblock gutters every so often, so all leaves and other debris are regularly removed.

– Look after gutters

As well as clearing out gutters, you should make sure they are still in good condition. As they are exposed to the elements all of the time and collect an untold amount of dirt and leaves, they are prone to wear and tear.

By getting them treated and brought back to life, you can protect them for much longer, ensuring they last several more years. Otherwise, their wear and tear could result in corrosion, meaning you would have to replace the guttering sooner than you expected to.

Commercial guttering coating will also give your building a face lift, helping it to look good without the state of your pipes letting you down.

– Chimney protection

Property owners that have buildings with working chimneys should also consider protecting them before the frost settles. Your tenants are likely to want to put on the fire when the temperature drops, but this could be dangerous if there is no cowl fitted to the chimney.

These act as a protection to prevent wind blowing smoke back down the chimneystack into the room, while they also stop birds and squirrels nesting in the chimney itself. In addition to this, they stop rain from entering, which could lead to damp patches in the top floors, causing more serious problems in the long-term.

– Fill in cracks

During the summer months, we often don’t realise if any damage occurs to a property as it is warm outside and the effects cannot be fully felt. However, it is important to check the building carefully to see if there are any defects, particularly looking out for cracks in the walls.

If you find any holes, it is important to fill these up as soon as possible, as they could not only cause cold air to leak into the structure of the property, but rainwater too.

It is easier to make these repairs before the cold, wet weather settles and you have complaints from tenants about draughts and damp to contend with.

– Bleed radiators

One of the simplest things to do that can make a big difference to those occupying the building is bleed the radiators. If they are colder at the top than the bottom, this means there is air trapped inside of them and they need to be bled.

By doing this, you will release the trapped air, which will mean the radiators can work more effectively in the future and heat the property more efficiently.

Why You Should Have A PPM For Your Commercial Property

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Why You Should Have A PPM For Your Commercial Property

A planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedule is designed to help ensure that owners, tenants, landlords and asset managers are all protected when it comes to the maintenance and management of a property.

An article for the Scotsman recently highlighted the benefits of having a PPM schedule in place at a property, noting that the main benefits are in terms of costs, management oversight and compliance with different legislation.

One of the main things that a PPM does is set out a timetable for maintenance and repairs. This means that everyone involved can plan for the work and set aside any capital that’s required to complete it.

From the perspective of a tenant, it’s useful to have a PPM schedule because it will clearly set out the costs and what your responsibilities are.

For a landlord or managing agent, a PPM schedule not only demonstrates that you care about the quality of the building that you’ll be renting out, but also acts as a basis for any maintenance or service charge that you’ll levy.

“It will help enable an owner to maintain a building’s value and a PPM is usually an essential part of due diligence information in a sale or purchase,” the news provider asserted.

Another thing that owners and occupiers of commercial buildings need to bear in mind is security. Which-50 recently pointed out that this aspect has become more challenging for businesses since the introduction of smart buildings.

Many smart buildings use the internet of things to improve everything from energy efficiency to the user experience, but if these online networks aren’t secure it can present risks from a cyber security perspective. 

If you need help with on site paint spraying or other building maintenance talks, get in touch with us today.

Underinvestment Sees Hospitals At Risk Of Sewage Leaks & Falling Ceilings

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Underinvestment Sees Hospitals At Risk Of Sewage Leaks & Falling Ceilings

A new report from a leading think tank has suggested that private finance initiative (PFI) payments made by some NHS trusts, coupled with years of underinvestment, could have ramifications for patient safety – including falling ceilings, sewage leaks and safety hazards.

The IPPR report analysed recent HMRC data and found that the PFI scheme (which funded capital spending through private finance) has cost the NHS £80 billion for just £13 billion of investment.

It went on to say that the NHS won’t be able to provide a modern health service unless the funds are there to invest in new infrastructure and technology. At the moment, there are £3 billion worth of critical maintenance issues unresolved, which includes fire safety hazards, sewage leaks and dangerous ceilings – all of which pose a danger to staff and patients alike.

The health service has thus far paid approximately £25 billion of the £80 billion expected total cost of PFI and with just under £55 billion more to pay, it will continue to be burdened for decades to come unless steps are taken to address the situation.

Last month (August), Boris Johnson announced that he would inject £1.8 billion into the NHS for building maintenance work. But reception of this was relatively mixed, with some pointing out that more than £6 billion was needed to carry out all necessary repairs in NHS hospitals because of ten years of austerity.

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