alternative project managers & surveyors

[Mark Brough]

Following the recent debacle with the LCS roof, I have made contact with pmp PLC based in Berkeley Square. They offer the building surveyor, project management and contract administration services which we require for the size of projects which we undertake.

 

[Mark Brough]

I have spoken with Richard Turton +44 7794 350758 . It sounds as though they offer just the services we require. He claims we are good fit in terms of size.

I reckon it would be good to put one of our "how should this be done" enquiries to pmp and begin to develop a relationship.

For example, the balconies, or the saturated concrete walls in the car park.

I invited him to visit the estate, but he didn't sound interested - perhaps we're not really the right size for them.

 

[Robin Williams]

..not sure what you are suggesting.. can we chat on this?

 

[Mark Brough]

Regarding Francois's roof, I never had a response from Adam or Lisa to my requests for professional expertise from 3Sixty. Alex's response was throw-away. As a result I have requested an estimate from PMP. Here is my email:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That's great to hear. Thank you Richard.

We have a few roofs which are corrugated zinc, fixed down with bolts. Although such a roof ought to be of high quality with a long life, every few years we suffer leaks, and a roofer goes and puts aquapol somewhere. We never get a clear, unambiguous, authoritative report of what caused the leak, and - quite reasonably - we never get a warranty, but instead are warned that the repair will last only a few years.

There are various explanations for these leaks - loose bolts, degraded bolt seals, too-small holes through the zinc not leaving enough expansion space, blocked drains, ponding gullies, leaking seams.

If the bolts and their seals are at fault, then I'm surprised that there are not some wind-proof plastic caps to fit over the bolt heads to provide at least a little shelter from rain. I believe such caps are available.

Our roofer has told us that the long-term solution is to replace the bolts. Not the seals, but the bolts, which surprises me. With larger bolts. Before embarking on such a project, we would want a professional to analyse the situation and endorse such a solution.

In January/February/March we are having major works on this roof (new access hatches, man-safe cables, new smoke vents) and we plan to have this zinc roof's weathertightness analysed at this time because scaffolding will be in place.

We would ask PMP please to analyse the situation, identify the manner of the existing faults, and propose a plan for the long-term (20+ years) repair of the roof, including recommendations for materials. We would ask for a meeting to discuss and query your findings, and for your findings to be recorded in a simple report. We have had situations where surveyors have produced overly-long overly-verbose reports using your profession's jargon, which we as laymen cannot understand, and padded out with disclaimers. We would prefer please not to receive such a report from PMP.

The roofs are about 40m x 200m and can be viewed here on Google Satellite View:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZaARULaeniV9pbFK9

Here is a drone video of the roof:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JunF96m6FwOpcyGjcVNoH0-ROMjb9J2p?usp=sharing

Following on from this analysis and planning and our subsequent decision on a solution, we would possibly also be looking for a surveyor to - if not "project manage" our roofer - then at least to oversee and provide guidance to the roofer.

Please do not provide a quote, but rather an indicative price. I am not a building professional, and I suspect that you would want a more objective specification of requirements before quoting?

Regards, Mark Brough.

 

[Mark Brough]

I met Richard Turton today. We climbed onto core #6 roof and I gave Richard a tour of the estate. Richard was impressive and knows more than any surveyor I have met about our type of roof.

He is going to give me:

1. a fee proposal for our zinc roof
2. a quote for surveying the estate and finally coming up with a preventative maintenance plan

The need for the latter was evidenced by two disappointing observations on the core #6 roof:

• The drains from the gullies are still not fitted with balloons to prevent debris falling down into the downpipes and hoppers. Despite my requesting this of BNS and 3Sixty for many years. The cost of these balloons would be a few £10s for the whole roof.
• Despite Martin Clark having been paid to clear the drains recently, there are parts of the roof where there is such accumulation of silt that there is deep grass growing.