Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Wow, what a year! Now it’s coming to a close we’ve finally got a chance to sit back and reflect (though we still have plenty to do over the festive period) and we have to admit it has been an incredible year.
We have had the chance to work with some incredible commercial clients, such as Amazon, Unity Housing, Chubb Security, Huddersfield Bradford Aiport and Wesco Aircraft to name just a few high end clients.
We have also worked with more domestic clients than we can count. Each job we have undertaken has been a delight, and we have appreciated each and every client that chose to work with us.
Next year is already looking busy for us, and we can’t wait to see what it brings. So from all at DPR Roofing, thank you, Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Please note we will be closing for the holidays on Wednesday the 21st of December, and re-opening on Tuesday the 3rd of January at 6am prompt.
New Roof Inspecting Technology
We thought the pinnacle of new roofing technology had been reached with Elon Musk’s new solar panels. However another recent development has still managed to surprise us.
DPR have years of experience in repairing and installing roofs in on both commercial and domestic properties. When we carry out a survey and give an estimate, thanks to our experience, it is always a very accurate estimate and we rarely deviate from it.
However, other firms do not have our experience, and have found a very novel way of working around this. There are two firms across the pond who are now using satellite imagery to give potential customers estimates of cost for having a new roof installed.
The two companies, Roofr, based in Toronto Canada, and Viirt in Portland Oregon, uses google maps, coupled with a very clever algorithm, to give very accurate estimates for a new roof installation.
The customer finds their home using google maps on each company’s websites, they then draw an outline around their home and input whether it is shallow, medium or steep pitched. Some very clever things happen and then an estimate is presented. This estimate can then be floated to a few contractors, if they wish to proceed with the job.
The process is quite accurate, with contractor’s bids usually coming in within 5% of the estimate amount, however it is far from perfect. If trees are obscuring the view, or if the roof in a particularly odd shape then the software can have trouble processing it.
It is a very interesting way of doing things, and Viirt has attracted $900,000 worth of investments from venture capitalists. However here at DPR we know that nothing beats our experience. All our roofing engineers have years of experience and are fully qualified. Something extremely surprising has to happen for us to revise our estimates.
If you would like to learn more about any of our estimates then just give us a call on 0113 335 0043.
DPR Lands a Huge New Project
DPR Roofing has a long and productive partnership with Unity Housing in Huddersfield and this has just been extended by the start of a huge new project with them.
Unity Housing Association is an organisation in Huddersfield committed to building strong sustainable neighbourhoods through the provision of high quality housing, social and employment opportunities.
We have provided roofing services for Unity for nearly two years now. In this time the partnership has flourished as we have worked on more and more buildings for them.
Recently, they asked us to undertake one of the biggest projects yet. Unity housing requested that we carry out a survey on 185 separate properties in the Huddersfield area. After the surveys are done on all 185 houses, Unity have asked DPR roofing to then complete any necessary works on a priority basis of importance.
All of these properties are pre-war/Victorian buildings and have had very little roof work since they were built. Therefore we are expecting a lot of age related defects and that a lot of maintenance and repair work will need to be carried out.
We enjoy jobs like this, as typically by carrying out works on older buildings we immediately improve the life of the residents within the house and make the property more attractive too. This could be via improved insulation, making the house warmer and reducing bills. Or by making it properly water tight with new gutters/roofs thus getting rid of damp and mould.
All at DPR are excited to get this project underway, and are grateful to Unity Housing for allowing us to stretch our legs and really get stuck into this one.
DPR offer a complete range of roofing services to both domestic and commercial clients, from lead work, to gutter cleaning to full scale roof replacements. If you are in Huddersfield, or anywhere in Yorkshire, and in need of our services then just call us on 0113 335 0043.
More Works carried out in Train Station
We recently spoke about some work we carried out in the historic train station at Skipton. This is part of an ongoing contract we have with a rail company that manages these properties.
As part of this contract we have also recently been required to carry out more lead work at another station, this time in Hyde Train Station, near Manchester.
As was the case in Skipton, the damage was caused by theft. This kind of attack is common, as there are still places where thieves can sell lead as scrap metal. Earning themselves some easy money. Unless security is improved this may well prove to be a repeat occurrence, as these historic buildings need to be kept as close to their original state as possible. This in involves DPR carrying out extensive lead welding and dressing.
Typically we would advise that our clients opt for more modern materials as they can provide a better water tight seal, and are less susceptible to theft. However, as these are older, more historic structures they have to stick to their heritage.
As before, DPR were more than happy to carry out this work. We find a satisfaction in keeping these older buildings going and any chance to practice and improve our lead welding and dressing is always welcome.
DPR offer complete roofing services, from repairs to servicing and maintenance on both commercial and domestic properties. To find out more just give us a call on 0113 335 0043
Flash Back for MD Darren as DPR Installs a New Roof at Brudenell Social Club
DPR Roofs recently took a walk down memory lane as we installed a new GRP Roof onto one of Huddersfield’ most notorious drinking and live music spots, the Brudenell Social Club.
Darren, who went to the site to conduct the survey and design a plan for water drainage falls structures used to collect glasses here back in the 1980’s. He said it was a strange feeling being back there after so long.
The club ended up choosing a GRP roofing system. This system is made of fibreglass and when installed properly will last around 35 years. It is its longevity and low maintenance that attracted the Brudenell to choosing it.
It is an extremely hard wearing product, which makes it perfect for this client, as sometimes some of their customers can get a bit rowdy. It is available in a number of different colours though the Brudenell opted for a standard grey finish.
It was a pleasure working with such a respected venue as the Brudenell social club, and we feel honoured to have been chosen out of the many roofing suppliers in Huddersfield. With regular checks the club should have a leak proof roof for the next 35 years.
DPR roofs have been supplying roofing services for 27 years. In this time we have installed flat roofs onto many kinds of building, both commercial and domestic. We also provide service and maintenance work to both roofs and guttering. To learn more about our services juts give us a call on 0113 335 0043.
DPR Wins Some Contracts with Some Very Respectable Clients Indeed.
We might be small compared to some organisations but we are mighty. DPR has time and time again won contracts from huge, national level clients, despite being a local Yorkshire firm.
This is because we prioritise a few things over everything else. Things like professionalism, efficiency, the standard of our service, not to mention the quality of our work.
These attributes can be represented through our accreditations. DPR Roofing are registered with the CORC (Confederation of Roofing Contractors), the FMB (Federation of Master Builders), Build Assure, the government endorsed Trustmark Scheme plus all done in a safe manner as we are also members of Safecontractor.
Because of these attributes we attract national level clients, just like the contracts we have recently won with two huge organisations. British Telecom and the Ministry of Justice.
The contracts are to provide damp proofing services to both the Judge’s Chambers at Bradford Law Courts, and at the BT Plusnet Headquarters in Huddersfield.
Damp proofing covers a huge range of roofing services. Commercial roofs in the UK are typically large, complex structures that take the brunt of the tumulus and generally poor weather in the UK. Without regular servicing and repairs these roofs will inevitably begin to leak, causing untold damage to the property.
In extreme cases a damp, rotten roof could collapse, possibly harming the workers within.
Therefore regular servicing and checks are vital to ensure the structural integrity of the building, the smooth operation of the business, and the safety of the workers within. We are proud to have won the contracts from these prestigious clients, and will strive to offer the best service possible.
If you are in need of any roofing services in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Huddersfield or any of the surrounding towns and villages, commercial or domestic, just give us a call on 0113 335 0043.
DPR Roofing Invests in New Equipment
DPR Roofing are committed to providing an excellent standard of customer service. We are always looking for ways in which we can better serve our clients. Whether this is improving the standard of the work we carry out, or increasing the speed with which we do it.
We have recently invested heavily in some brand new access equipment which allows us to do both.
Unfortunately the delivery of the equipment is not until next spring due to it being a bespoke factory order from Italy. In the meantime DPR Roofing has just established the long term hire of a new, larger, cherry picker unit. We have had our own cherry picker units for some time, as we feel this better enables us to deal with client’s request. It also means we can respond to any jobs more quickly as we no longer have to spend time sourcing hire equipment.
However, due to increased commercial demands our current unit was struggling to keep up. Therefore we have worked with RKP of Durham to negotiate the long term hire of a much larger cherry picker unit until we get our new larger unit.
The hired in machine has the ability to reach sideways up to 60 feet. This allows us to access incredibly tricky spots, including hard to reach areas over things such as glass roofs. This versatility and improved access put us way ahead of our competitors and allows us to perform jobs that others can’t and to a higher standard.
DPR Roofing have the equipment and expertise to be able carry out a huge array of jobs. If you are in need of any of our services just give us a call on 0113 335 0043.
Flat roof renewal at Ardsley Social Club
DPR Roofing underway with works at East and West Ardsley Social Club after being contacted by their steward who noticed problems with their flat roofs at the popular local site.
Three of the large flat roofs at the venue were leaking into the main building which prevented the club from hosting events safely, and utilising all of their facilities.
The three roofs all require a re-roof, with the DPR team adding brand new felt roofing in the desired places. Felt roofing is a great way of roofing and if done properly, can last over 20 years before needing any attention or care.
The venue is popular with many of the locals and has upcoming events including birthday parties, social nights and presentation evenings. It is also busy during the European Championships showing many of the live games.
This inquiry came through our Huddersfield Roofs chat facility with the contracts manager contacting Danny (one of our office work schedulers) before we arranged a survey/site visit to assess the damage caused by the leaking roofs. If you have any questions you can always ask us and we will get back to you quickly.
If you have a problem with your flat roof, both on domestic or commercial buildings like the Ardsley Social Club, and require a patch repair or a full re-roof, please do not hesitate to contact our team. Flat roofs have a bad reputation for having problems, and often these are caused from problems at the very beginning.
For more information about the flat roof services we provide, please contact us today.
New guttering added at Country Style Foods Huddersfield
DPR has recently added brand new guttering to the building of Country Style Foods, after the existing guttering had fallen into a state of disrepair. This was in addition to other multiple roof repairs needed. This is the second phase of works for the large food supplier in Huddersfield.
By using a clever technique, the DPR team added brand new guttering inside the existing guttering shell, adding complete new runs to the gutter. This is an instant though bespoke system transforming the gutter immediately into a fully working unit again yet retaining the original look.
Guttering plays an important role in removing water from the roof safely and when it fails, can cause considerable damage to the building and leave walkways below unsafe not to mention stock damage. If you, like Country Style Foods, have problems with your gutters or roofs, it is important to get them solved quickly.
At DPR we, recommended a professional company checks your commercial guttering at least once a year. We know, from experience, that there are buildings across the Yorkshire region that have not had a gutter surveyed, or cleaned for over twenty years and this will cause problems to the building for certain.
If you are in that situation, please act before it is too late and call one of our office team today. We can carry out a full inspection backed up with quality photographs, clean all manner of debris from the gutters and recommend any works which might needs carrying out now or in the future.
Country Style Foods are a modern craft bakery company that works closely with leading retailers and food service customers, specialising in high volume production of top quality bakery products.
Benefits of green roofs
Green roofs have many advantages that not only benefit buildings, but also have various social, economic and environmental benefits. They have been growing in popularity consistently, and it’s not hard to see why, considering how much there is to gain by investing in them. Here are just some of the benefits that can be gained from green roofs:
Increases roof lifespan
The lifespan of a roof depends on the design of it, the materials used and the weather conditions of the surrounding area. Most roofs can last for anywhere up to around 35 years. Green roofs, which create barriers between the roof itself and the waterproofing underneath, are able to function effectively for up to 50 years, which is a considerable difference to normal roofs.
Soundproofing
Thanks to the growth medium, the grass itself, other plants, and trapped layers of air, green roofs are able to provide great soundproofing properties compared to traditional roofs. This could be of great benefit to community buildings as well as industrial premises where loud, disruptive sound is prominent.
Reduces energy use
When roofs are poorly optimised, either through bad insulation or something else, they increase energy use throughout the building – whether by increasing the need of heating in the winter or the need of artificial cooling during the summer. Green roofs are shown to have a positive impact on a building energy consumption, thereby saving money.
Tackles climate change
Buildings cause a huge amount of the carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom, with 26% coming from homes and 18% from other buildings. Climate change is a real problem that needs to be tackled now rather than later – with the implementation of green roofs, this can be done – due to the reduced energy consumption that they provide, CO2 emissions are decreased and the, limiting the damage to the environment.
DPR provides high quality, bespoke roofing services across the Yorkshire area. If you’d like to find out more, please do give us a call today.