When a property suffers from an outbreak of timber decay, a woodworm infestation, or dampness, an owner’s main concern is finding a reputable  company  to carry out the remedial works professionally and competently. This though is not always as easy as it sounds and can prove to be a minefield.

 Thankfully there are a few simple rules which property owners can apply to reduce the uncertainty they face in this situation.

Over and above the usual issues involved in any purchase decision such as quality of service, quality of workmanship, and value for money, there are two other  important areas to which a property owner should pay attention when selecting a preservation company; association membership and the guarantees.

The Property Care Association (PCA)

The Property Care Association, formally known as the British Wood Preserving and Damp Proofing Association (BWPDA), is the nationally recognised trade association for the property preservation industry and is the largest of its type in Europe.  The PCA stipulates standards of workmanship, ethics and codes of practise and provides guidance on training, legibility and standard specifications.  In order to become a PCA accredited remedial installer a company must train surveyors to CSRT standard.  The Certified Surveyor in Remedial Treatment (CSRT) qualification thoroughly examines surveyor’s knowledge of timber and damp problems and solutions, as well as of health and safety issues. This gives you the peace of mind that your property is in the hands of the property care experts.
When an owner encounters a preservation problem with their home they should always select a company which is fully registered with the PCA to ensure their contractor has a certain level of training both in terms of health and safety and technical expertise.  The PCA will also act as arbiter if disputes between a PCA member and a client arise.

Types of Guarantee
Another crucial element of any preservation contract must be the guarantees that are available. The guarantee proves to potential property purchasers that not only has the work has been carried out but it also provides a fallback if the work has not dealt completely with the problem.  As the guarantee is therefore important to the resale value of a property it is important to note that all guarantees are not equally reliable:  Most timber preservation companies offer a 20 year guarantee on works carried out but how sound is that guarantee?  It all depends on the type of guarantee offered.

Fully Insured Insurance Backed Guarantees

Most reputable preservation companies will offer the option of a fully insured insurance backed guarantee provided by an autonomous organisation such as the Guarantee Protection Insurance (GPI).  In order to qualify for this type of guarantee the preservation company must meet certain financial stability and trading history requirements and are monitored regularly by the PCA.  Surveyors must also posses the necessary CRST certification and technicians will also be trained in safe and proper use of the latest techniques and materials.  Insurance companies like the GPI exist solely to validate preservation guarantees and should the preservation company concerned cease to trade the GPI would appoint another PCA registered company to undertake the works in response to a claim.  The fully insured insurance backed guarantee requires a standard one-off payment and the cost is therefore clearly seen and understood by the client.

Timberwise offer fully insured insurance backed guarantees through the Guarantee Protection Insurance (GPI) Scheme.

Overall, in order to reduce uncertainty and protect the future value of a property when having preservation work carried out, a property owner should look for a PCA member and should look carefully at the guarantee options offered by the prospective companies.  In addition, as with any other concerns regarding the work to be carried out by a preservation company, ask as many questions as you feel necessary to provide you with peace of mind – a competent surveyor should be happy to discuss any concerns you have before the contract begins.

Timberwise as members of the Property Care Association offer comprehensive long term guarantees along with fully insured guarantees from Guarantee Protection Insurance giving you complete peace of mind that your property is in the hands of the property care experts.  Click for more details of our guarantees.