Good Samaritan gets Weber backing for rogue render repair
When a rogue trader fleeces a home owner for a sub-standard render job, the reputation of the whole industry suffers. This happened in Baxenden, Lancashire, with the resident relieved of several thousands of pounds, above the realistic price for the job, but worse was the appallingly poor quality of the workmanship that failed within four years leaving the property structure exposed to rain and damp ingress.
Property owner Susan Bowie complained to her local Trading Standards office who informed her that the rogue trader was already being prosecuted for previous offences and was by then behind bars. Her insurance company was unwilling to help as the problem was caused by faulty workmanship rather than accidental damage. Susan searched for approved tradesmen via the Lancashire County Council’s Safe Trading web portal but all the while the property was still in desperate need of protection.
Phil Morton of Morton & Son Plasterers Limited, based in Oswaldtwistle, is a time-served plasterer in the area with a reputation built on a lifetime of skilled work and conscientious customer satisfaction. “I served my apprenticeship in this trade many years ago and now my son Bradley Morton is working and training with me. I have never lost a customer through poor work and I take pride in my business knowing that my name is referred on by satisfied clients to bring me further work,” says Phil.
Phil heard of Susan Bowie’s predicament and surveyed the property to assess the remedial action required. The external surface was simply falling off because the base render was turning to loose sand without any bond at all. Phil felt that Susan should not have to bear the full costs again so asked his regular suppliers for help by way of extra discounts on materials and loan of equipment.
Having a preference for using Weber render products Phil was delighted when his approach immediately gained total support from Saint Gobain Weber with the donation of sufficient weberpral M
“Having cleaned off the failed render we applied a dubbing-out coat to level out the elevations and then applied the weberend aid which is a strong bonding agent. Like so many of these properties the substrate was not perfectly square and level but we made the best possible finish. Laying in the meshcloth also strengthened the whole render process. We finished the job by working through the weekend as the forecast was for a wet, cold spell and we wanted Susan and her property to be protected,” reports Phil.
“I’m very grateful to Phil Morton, my good Samaritan, and to Weber for the donation of these high quality materials. It restores one’s faith in human nature and the professionals in the plastering and render trade,” says a grateful Susan Bowie.