SOCIAL HOUSING & COMMUNITY


The jobs where we examine a damaged surface and think “that can’t be repaired” are extremely rare. The simple truth is that the vast majority can be fixed, potentially saving thousands of pounds in the process.


Our repair technicians work on a huge variety of jobs. One week they can be fixing a toilet cistern in an office block, the next they could be repairing a damaged dinosaur in a theme park. The requirements are myriad.


Technicians are frequently repairing damaged surfaces on transport infrastructure, such as train seats, retail accessories, such as fixed display signs on garage forecourts or supermarket freezer cabinets. Day-to-day requirements offer real variety that can see technicians called into world famous sporting venues, zoos and even the Big Brother house.


Although well-known and widely used in the housebuilding and construction trade for many years, cosmetic repair services are a relatively new concept for many facilities managers. But increasing uptake of these services has seen FMs in hotels, universities, offices, leisure, retail and public sector buildings use them to repair accidental and repeat damage as well as assisting with larger scale planned maintenance and refurbishment projects.


Social housing offers similarly diverse opportunities for repair. As a business, we work with councils and individual housing associations. Edinburgh Council, for example, tasked us with repairing the sanitary ware, baths and basins within its housing stock in the city, covering both occupied and void properties.


Similarly, our services were required by New Charter Housing, which is a social landlord with over 19,000 properties based in Greater Manchester and the surrounding area. Repairs in this instance were more wide ranging, as they looked to us to make good doors, kitchen units, work surfaces and bathrooms, undertaking comprehensive repairs on a variety of surfaces.


www.tomorrowsfm.com


Cosmetic repair uses fine finishing techniques which often originated in the automotive trade, but can also be found in French polishing. Technicians use a vast array of proprietary fillers, hardeners, polishes and colours to mend surfaces that have suffered damage such as scratches, chips, holes, gouges, splits, cracks, discolouration or graffiti damage. This means that, essentially, practically any kind of damage can be mended.


But it’s not just a case of what can and can’t be repaired. Another key question to consider is why should you choose to repair?


“THE AVERAGE


REPAIR COSTS LESS THAN £20 PER


ITEM. USING THESE SAME FIGURES, IT’S ESTIMATED THAT EVERY £1 SPENT


ON REPAIR TENDS TO SAVE £3 IN REPLACEMENT.”


One of the biggest factors in favour of repair is cost savings. Buying something from new is almost always more expensive than fixing it. Statistics from Plastic Surgeon suggest that the average repair costs less than £20 per item. Using these same figures, it’s estimated that every £1 spent on repair tends to save £3 in replacement.


Then there are labour costs to take into consideration. Your average repair technician is highly trained and able to repair a diverse range of surfaces, which negates the need to bring in specialist workers such as tilers, plasterers, plumbers and electricians who often command much greater fees thanks to their specialist skills. Repairing damaged items such as sinks, windows, work- surfaces, fitted furniture or sanitary- ware, removes the need to make good


or replace surrounding plasterwork, tiles or other substrates.


Most repairs take around two hours to complete and the most cost-effective way to utilise repair services is to get multiple repairs done at a time. When a social housing landlord has several thousand properties to maintain, repair can save huge sums of money.


But it’s not just cost savings to consider; environmental savings also play a large part. Repairing something saves on landfill – an increasingly important factor as businesses strive to meet sustainability targets and promote environmentally friendly policies. This is particularly applicable to councils, who have to be the flag bearers for environmental policies. Of course, landfill savings also help local authorities directly, which makes it even more applicable to councils that manage large property portfolios.


Repair technicians are also very adept at working in-situ, meaning workplace disruption is minimal as they adapt to operating around busy workplaces. That could be in office spaces, on university campuses, hotels or even working theatres – a recent job saw one repair technician having to negotiate his day around rehearsals and live performances at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon.


When it comes to social housing though, the obvious benefit is that it creates minimal disruption for the tenant. In many cases, these are families with young children, and our fine finishers are able to carry out the necessary repairs in quick order and without unnecessary commotion. Their flexibility also allows for them to liaise directly with the tenant, ensuring they work at a time that’s suitable to them and liable to cause minimal fuss.


Never assume that something can’t be repaired. Unless it’s structurally damaged, shattered beyond recognition or ground into dust, the opportunity for repair is there. The job at hand might seemingly be a large one, but even then it’s usually a much cheaper and environmentally friendlier alternative than complete replacement.


www.plastic-surgeon.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM | 59


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