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Malta Business Review<br />
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION<br />
IF YOU THINK IT’S EXPENSIVE TO HIRE A<br />
PROFESSIONAL, WAIT UNTIL YOU HIRE AN AMATEUR<br />
Over the years, I have heard this quote from time to time, but<br />
I never thought too much about it until I became President<br />
of the Malta Waterproofing and Resin Flooring Association.<br />
By Antoine Bonello<br />
This simple phrase applies also well to the<br />
waterproofing business. If you have doubts it’s<br />
simply because you have not yet experienced<br />
disaster prone persons.<br />
Many of us do not take notice of this simple<br />
advice until it’s too late. Oddly enough, the<br />
statement originates from a man named<br />
Paul Neil ”Red” Adair, an American legendary<br />
oil well firefighter who pioneered the highly<br />
specialised profession of extinguishing and<br />
capping oil well blowouts. He is known for<br />
extinguishing the oil well fires set by Saddam<br />
Hussein in Kuwait during the Gulf War in 1991.<br />
He is an expert in his field and set his price<br />
accordingly. He understood that his knowledge<br />
and experience had a value that would actually<br />
save someone a lot of money if they would<br />
allow him to do the job right the first time.<br />
For many people, choosing the right contractor<br />
to do waterproofing works is a daunting task.<br />
In fact, hiring a contractor for any project strikes<br />
fear in the hearts of most people because they<br />
have either had a bad experience personally, or<br />
heard a horror story about a contractor from a<br />
friend or acquaintance.<br />
Every now and then we read on the newspaper<br />
about individuals or companies “ripping off”<br />
unsuspecting customers by not showing up<br />
after the deposit is paid, or by doing bad works.<br />
Many discovered that their roof still leaked<br />
when it rained and to add to the frustration,<br />
their phone calls and complains were either<br />
ignored or refused to shoulder the blame. In<br />
other cases these conmen switch to a new<br />
mobile phone number and disappear when<br />
threatened with legal procedures or when<br />
someone finds out about their fake “guarantee<br />
certificates” containing no company or<br />
personal details.<br />
The result if you are lucky enough to eventually<br />
trace the guys is an endless court case that will<br />
eventually take years and prove fruitless.<br />
Everyone wants a good deal and to feel like they<br />
kept themselves from being taken advantage<br />
of, but quite often this approach can backfire<br />
on you, if you are not careful. Most people don’t<br />
value what they don’t understand, so they set<br />
their own “internal” price and find someone<br />
inexperienced to match it. Unfortunately, this<br />
can be a very costly decision.<br />
How to choose between different contractors?<br />
Once you have decided that you will entrust<br />
your waterproofing works to a roofer, you will<br />
then have to decide which the ideal company<br />
for the Job is. The following points will help you<br />
to set out your priorities right<br />
• Many times we base our conclusion<br />
on price. In most cases cheap price tag<br />
means only poor quality materials and<br />
works. Do not fall for the cheap price<br />
sham.<br />
• More than often we encounter installer<br />
who offer us a one solution fits all and<br />
pretend to solve all your problems by<br />
hiding them under a bitumen carpet<br />
membrane that creates heat intake and<br />
eventually opens from seams due to<br />
concrete expansions. Do not implement<br />
old type materials they are simply not up<br />
to the job anymore.<br />
• Traceability this is very important factor.<br />
Always make sure that the person or<br />
company you are dealing with has a<br />
fixed showroom or office address, a<br />
valid VAT number and registered with<br />
the MSFA.<br />
• Always make sure to be given in writing<br />
the proposed modalities of works and<br />
how the materials will be applied, their<br />
consumption and product data sheets.<br />
Products must be certified to withstand<br />
UV rays, Traffic and have the right<br />
elasticity.<br />
• Last and not least verity that the person<br />
you are dealing with is a Member of<br />
the Malta Professional Waterproofing<br />
and Resin Flooring Association and<br />
Waterproofing with Thermal insuation membrane that<br />
reduces 90% of heat intake<br />
A good surface preparation is vital to any waterproofing system<br />
54<br />
Waterproofing of St George parish church with<br />
breadable elastic UV resistant materials made from<br />
selected resins and fibre glass
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