Roofline and rainwater products from Swish Building Products have been specified by Broadacres Housing Association for installation on over 350 homes. Black half-round gutters and round downpipes are being supplied alongside white fascias and soffits through local stockist, Quay Plastics to contractor and installer, Newlife Windows.
This is the first time that the low maintenance building product manufacturer will be supplying the North Yorkshire-based housing association with components from its sustainable rainwater range. Broadacres wished to align the rainwater system with the roofline supplier; the Swish products proved to be the best value, high quality option. The housing association conducts value for money reviews on its technical specifications prior to tendering for all planned maintenance projects.
“Historically these [roofline and rainwater] components have been on a 30 year replacement programme however this may be reviewed going forward due to the increased life expectancy of new generation PVC-U products,” comments Ian Pollitt, quantity surveyor for Broadacres Housing Association. “We also pick up prospective replacement jobs following stock condition surveys carried out by our Technical Services team. In most instances, the new roofline and rainwater systems are replacing existing PVC products but on this year’s replacement programme there are 13 properties with timber fascias.”
Forming part of an annual replacement programme, 191 properties were completed under phase one; a further 161 will be upgraded during phase two which began in October and will continue into the New Year. Fascias and soffits are replaced on all elevations of the properties while rainwater goods are only replaced if required.
“It is a little too early to comment on the success of the programme but, so far so good, we have no cause for complaint,” continues Ian. “The systems appear to be performing well and this should become more evident as the weather changes over the coming months.”
Broadacres provides a comprehensive range of services to approximately 5,600 homes in North Yorkshire. Established in 1993, the Association has grown both in terms of the number of properties it manages and its awareness of the needs and aspirations of its customers.
With headquarters in Northallerton, Broadacres currently has stock in Hambleton, Darlington, Spennymoor, Richmondshire, Harrogate, Redcar and Cleveland, Ryedale, Selby and East Riding of Yorkshire and Scarborough.
Broadacres provides homes for rent, shared ownership and outright sale, as well as providing a range of support services to different client groups including persons with mental health problems, learning disabilities, older persons, people with physical disabilities, those fleeing domestic violence and the homeless. In addition, it has a home improvement agency to assist with property adaptations and repairs to enable people to continue to live in their homes.
