Autumn 2011 Issue 005

THE FINISHING LINENews and views on specialist cosmetic repair and fine finishing

AT A GLANCE

Rob Mouser TalksPlastic Surgeon answers growing demand

As this issue of the Finishing Line is going to print, industry analysts seem baffled by the conflicting statistics emerging from different sources: apparently indicating a fall off in activity at the same time as purchasing is rising and contractors are complaining about a labour shortage. Plastic Surgeon’s honest perspective, however, is that from the massive Mann Island development in Liverpool down to the permanent hot-spot that is London, we have never been busier.

One fact we can be sure about is that housing completions have been flat-lining, though typical unit sizes have increased as city apartments have given way to family homes. Therefore we have been growing our share of a slowly recovering sector, and this is down to the diverse and adaptable nature of the service we offer customers; coupled with a sound infrastructure.

For the company has continued to invest in IT support – including our multi award winning VisibilITy software – as well as training and logistics. In addition to the quick response call centre and warehouse contained within our HQ, Plastic Surgeon’s Training School has been giving new Finishers the skills necessary to tackle our full range of repairs – though the total would be well past the present 100 mark if recruiting in the South-east wasn’t like waiting for a British Wimbledon winner.

Essentially Plastic Surgeon has been reinforcing its position as the UK’s foremost cosmetic repair specialist: adding new techniques and driving through efficiencies. In particular our IT department’s innovative system that permits data compiled from each Finisher’s hand-held computer to be assimilated on the company’s data base now enables us to give clients valuable statistics on the volumes saved from going to landfill.

Overall Plastic Surgeon offers a highly professional service and expects to grow steadily as the recovery strengthens and more organisations come to recognize the benefits available.

Rob MouserManaging Director

Customer Case Study

Plastic Surgeon helps with optimum delivery of Cambridge college contractAlthough one of the key targets of Egan and Rethinking Construction, to achieve zero defects, may still seem a distant dream for most in the industry, Plastic Surgeon has recently been involved with the completion of an education contract in Cambridge, for which the cosmetic repair specialist received a certificate acknowledging its contribution to the overall quality and sustainability of delivery.

The work on the Parkside Community College, part of Parkside Federation which runs two campuses in Cambridge, was carried out on behalf of the main contractor, Morgan Sindall; and involved two of the company’s Finishers undertaking both Stone techniques and the making good of scratches to powder coated metal frame windows.

The new facility built by Morgan Sindall provides four additional classrooms and a new entrance area at the college, within what could be described as a high tech style envelope. The member of the Stone team was tasked with repairing a number of reconstituted sandstone window cills where they had been chipped when scaffolding was removed. The damaged areas were treated with a bonding agent and then filled back flush with the original profile, while the use of selected aggregates and pigments gave an exact colour match.

Continued overleaf

FINISHER CHALLENGESpecialist tile repair at Manchester College Repairs make big savings at Scottish supermarket

Optimum delivery for Cambridge College The top 5 watch out for metal

CUSTOMER CASE STUDY

CUSTOMER CASE STUDY THE ‘F’ WORDS

THE FINISHING LINE

Tech TalkBy Ross Gardner, IT Manager, Plastic Surgeon

NEW CENTRAL BOOKING SYSTEMThe new central booking system has now been rolled out across three of Plastic Surgeon’s six regional operations centres.The new system aims to:

•Cutappointmentbookingtimes

•MakeFinishervisitsmoresustainablebyreducingtravel time and cutting fuel costs

•GetFinishersonsitefaster

Customer case study cont.

Goodcolourperceptionandtheabilitytoblendvariouspigmentsby eye are essential requirements for someone becoming a fully trained Finisher; and Plastic Surgeon’s other operative on the contract used this skill to mix sufficient paint to repair the scratched window frames.

Once the affected areas had been brought up with two part fillers, and carefully smoothed back, the Finisher sprayed in the repairs to completely conceal the striations and create a surface which will remain as resistant to weathering as the factory applied coating.

The Contracts Manager on the Parkside scheme for Morgan Sindall, Mr Michael Elmer, comments: “On every project we undertake we strive to achieve as near optimum delivery as possible for the client – which means meeting or exceeding their expectation on a variety of criteria. These include delivery on time, on budget - and with zero defects being the ultimate aim.”

“This particular job at Parkside Community College achieved that and Plastic Surgeon was amongst the sub-contractors who helped us realize our goals. Although I had been aware of Plastic Surgeon being used by our company, this was my first experience of the specialist service. It seems a very efficient approach to accessing a one-stop shop for snagging or remedial work.”

Parkside Federation Academies runs two relatively small secondary schools in Cambridge; Parkside Community College and Coleridge Community College, each offering places for some 600 boys and girls. It also operates a primary school located on its Coleridge campus, known as Ridgefield Primary School.

Plastic Surgeon offers big savings at Scottish supermarket

Façade cladding is one of the most vulnerable parts of any property when it is under construction, while its replacement can be both logistically difficult and costly. Therefore when an unidentified sub-contractor caused damage to the main frontage of a new Scottish supermarket, a call went out to Plastic Surgeon, the national cosmetic repair specialist, to remedy the situation. The work at the Sainsbury’s store in Strathaven, Lanarkshire, was carried out on behalf of Barr Construction; the main contractor for the original build and a regular customer of Plastic Surgeon.

There is a need to carry out snagging operations at the end of any build programme and Barr Construction has come to realise how much quicker and more economically Plastic Surgeon can complete such tasks. It is also viewed as far more sustainable to repair rather than replace: a consideration at the core of the retail giant’s mission statement.

As is often the case where multiple trades use ladders, cherry pickers and other means of access, some of the reconstituted stone cladding panels had been chipped, while there were also cracks and discolouration to the body of some sections. Furthermore, the high quality cladding featured a swirling random pattern in several colours, while one of the affected areas was directly above the cash-point, or ATM, at the front of the building.

Therefore to minimise disruption for the supermarket’s customers, and to mitigate the health and safety implications, Plastic Surgeon’s Finisher, accompanied by the company’s Scottish Regional Manager, Derek Whiteford, arranged to begin the repair work at 7-00 am, before the store opened to the public. Safety barriers were erected around the work area and an aluminium alloy tower scaffold used to access the affected area some three metres above the ground.

Initially the Finisher employed rapid hardening two-pack fillers to restore the chipped and scratched sections of the inch thick panels to slightly proud of their original profile, before smoothing them back by hand and with power tools.

Then using the pigments that all of the Plastic Surgeon’s Finishers carry in their van kits, the operative mixed a series of colours including red, orange and a sandy yellow. These were then sprayed on using the compressor set at a very low pressure to achieve the correct texture.

This technique was repeated on the separate section of the façade near to the trolley bay, with all work being completed by the end of the eight hours allocated in the original quote.

TheSiteAgentforBarrConstruction,MrGordonForrester,commented

“This was a sensitive task given that the work had to be carried out in an area normally used by the public. Plastic Surgeon cooperated fully in providing a safe working plan and beginning early in the morning, while the Finisher involved did a very good job in repairing and colour matching the damaged areas. Replacing these panels would have been far more disruptive and costlier.”

Not only has Plastic Surgeon worked extensively for Barr Construction on colleges and other education projects in the run up to handover, but the success of the work at Sainsbury’s Strathaven store has resulted in the specialist being requested to return and repair more cladding to the rear of the building, plus two hand dryers fitted in a washroom.

Plastic Surgeon is a finalist in the BIFM (British Institute of Facilities Management) Awards 2011 – Innovation in Products category.

Autumn 2011 Issue 005

Sustainable cosmetic repairs cause minimum disruption for facilities managers

NEW WHITE PAPER FROM PLASTIC SURGEONBeyond the physical effects of having a specialist company carry out cosmetic repairs, as an alternative to employing in-house maintenance staff or a variety of external trade contractors, the document also assesses the quantifiable reduction that can be made in an organization’s environmental impact: repair being shown to greatly reduce the consumption of resources and waste sent to landfill, associated with going down the replacement route.

Download at: www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk/whitepaper

Construction Industry FocusHOPE FOR CONSTRUCTIONThe government will spend £22bn on construction projects over the next three years, according to cabinet office minister, Francis Maude, who stated that the spending figures will be confirmed later in the autumn, along with further details on exactly what projects the money will be going on.

Furthermore, from what Mr Maude then went on to say could be good news for Plastic Surgeon, being that we save tonnes of waste going to landfill every year by repairing rather than replacing damaged building components. He stated: “The government’s construction strategy is reducing costs by up to 20% by reforming the way we procure construction projects across all sectors. However, we are still investing billions of pounds annually; with the same money we will procure more schools, hospitals, courts and prisons. Despite an incredibly difficult economic climate we are investing in and prioritizing our construction industry.

Read full article at www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk/construction

Construction News Industry Briefing

Plastic Surgeon has partnered with Construction News to produce an informative series of industry briefings. So far topics covered have included:

• SocialHousing–Clientsraiseexpectations.Newfundingrulescreate fresh challenges but greater certainty.

• MoDshake-uptoaddvalue.ChangestoFMsetuplooktoreapbenefits of value engineering.

• Industrialworkshiftsfocus.Thenatureofworkinthesectorischanging as the upturn emerges.

The briefings are published in Construction News and on the Plastic Surgeon website.

Download the latest ones at www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk/cnews

Finisher ChallengeSpecialist tile repair and restoration at Manchester CollegePlastic Surgeon’s expertise was called upon to repair damaged tiles and damaged pillars during the refurbishment of the Grade II listed building – a former Victorian swimming baths.

The construction works were completed recently by leading northern construction contractor, Quarmby Construction, who employed the services of Plastic Surgeon to restore and repair a number of the unique features in the former Victorian swimming baths.

Quarmby Construction Site Manager Kevin Starkey said: “This project involved the refurbishment of a Grade II Listed buildingand so we had to restore the unique original features. Plastic Surgeon was able to provide repairs that were detailed and virtually invisible, we simply could not tell where the damage had been. They did a fantastic job, a very professional service and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them as a result.”

Read the full case study at www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk/Business/Construction/Specialisttilerepair.aspx

Plastic Surgeon scoops national recycling award

Plastic Surgeon won the ‘Waste Minimisation Award’ at the 2011 National Recycling Awards in July.Plastic Surgeon won the national accolade after fighting off tough competition from Costain, Crystal Clear Window Works, the London Borough of Hackney and a joint venture by Skanska and Balfour Beatty.

A spokesperson from MRW said: “The judges loved that this was a business all about repairing rather than replacing materials – and saving waste in the process.”

Rob Mouser, Managing Director of Plastic Surgeon said: “We are delighted to have won such a prestigious award. By taking on the ‘snagging’ or damage inevitably caused by building contractors during the build process, and helping to repair and maintain surfaces in existing buildings, our team work to avoid the need to replace damaged items, thereby reducing the huge volume of material sent to landfill every week.”

He went on to say: “Last year we saved 64,938 items from landfill and carried out 208,221 repairs, this award gives us credible recognition for our commitment to sustainability.”

Plastic Surgeon shortlisted for the Awards for Environmental Excellence 2011

Autumn 2011 Issue 005

The ‘F’ WordsWe regularly encounter the same causes of damage to the same surfaces, the type that happens so easily, usually resulting in a few choice words. We compile a ‘top 5’ of the regular offenders in each issue, so you can take steps to avoid them. But if you do have a surface that gets damaged, just remember the ‘F’ words, Fine Finishers.

METAL – Top 5 ‘watch out’

1. Heavy plant and vehicles reversing into metal panels and wall cladding

2. On-site labourers accidentally denting, gouging or scratching metal surfaces

3. Damage when erecting or removing scaffolding

4. Doorways and entrances getting damaged when large or cumbersome items such as planks of wood are transported through them

5. Vandalism

About Plastic SurgeonAs the UK’s leading experts in cosmetic repairs some of the most respected names in UK house building and construction rely on us to get the job done. We employ over 100 staff, and provide full coverage of mainland UK.

Telephone 0845 141 0000 Facsimile 0845 143 0000

Plastic Surgeon® Ltd. Blue Waters House, Pottery Road, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9DSenquiries@plastic-surgeon.co.uk

www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk

Finishing Facts

• So far this year Plastic Surgeon has saved over 1,200 tonnes of waste from going to landfill.

• For every £1 spent on repairs with Plastic Surgeon, you save £3 on material replacements, and that’s excluding labour costs.

!

Read | Share | Recycle. Produced by walltow

allsunshine.com on 75%

recycled paper using vegetable based inks.

Housebuilding Industry Focus

A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR HOUSEBUILDINGIf you remember, back in March, we reported that Plastic Surgeon enjoyed its most successful month for business, ever. Interestingly – and hopefully a sign of recovering confidence in

the industry, new home registrations by house builders reached the highest monthly number for over three years during that month, according to the NHBC.

Both the private and public sectors saw substantial increases as 13,307 new homes were registered in the UK, the largest reported monthly figures since November 2007. This figure equates to a 21 per cent increase year-on-year (11,018, March 2010) and a 49 per cent increase on February’s figure (8,917).

Indeed, not less than half a mile from our national headquarters in Bovey Tracey, we had been watching a derelict patch of land, where Cardew Tea Pottery once stood, become overrun, as no housebuilder wanted to take up the planning permission won on it.

But Taylor Wimpey, one of our clients, has now purchased the site for over 100 new homes, some of which will be affordable, in an area that has traditionally been too expensive for locals and first time buyers. And wherever you go, up and down the country, where abandoned construction sites were boarded up, there is once again activity.

This upturn may in part be down to government initiatives, such as the FirstBuy scheme, while developers are creating their own incentives. Taylor Wimpey, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders, recently announced that it has secured funding to help over 1200 first time buyers across England get on the property ladder.

FirstBuy, which was unveiled in the Chancellor’s Budget earlier this year, works through a joint loan of 20% from the Government and TaylorWimpey, which means that eligible purchasers only need put down a 5% deposit and obtain a 75% loan-to-value mortgage. The loan is repayable at the end of the 25 year mortgage term or when the property is sold. To be eligible, purchasers’ total household earnings should be less than £60,000.Kevin Belsham, national sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey, comments:“FirstBuyenablesustoworkcloselywiththeGovernmenttohelp more people buy their first home. An increase in the number of first time buyers entering the market is also good news for those further up the chain. We believe that this scheme will make all the difference to those who can afford the monthly repayments on a mortgage but not the hefty deposit. With only 80 per cent of the property’s value to finance, buyers will have access to a wider choice of mortgage products and more competitive interest rates.”

Indeed, we wish Taylor Wimpey all the best in helping to regenerate the site in Bovey Tracey, and we will be there to help them with any snagging cosmetic repair work required, as the properties near handover.

Repair Resources

Download our white papers at - www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk/whitepaper

Read repair articles at www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk/articles

Read customer case studies at -www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk/casestudies

Watch our Finishers at work - www.youtube.com/FineFinishers

Sign up to our blog at -www.specialist-fine-finishing-repair-services.co.uk/

Follow us at twitter.com/#!/finefinishers

Follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/plastic-surgeon