Permadoor, a specialist supplier of composite doors to the social housing sector has completed a successful pilot scheme with Robert Price Builders’ Merchant, supplying stock doors for use by social landlord, Melin Homes.
Through a forward commitment, Robert Price Builders’ Merchant stocks eight doors in each of its Newport and Cardiff branches, four front and four rear doors. To ensure that stock levels are constantly maintained, Permadoor stocks, and continually replenishes, identikit products at its premises in Worcestershire.
Unlike traditional door replacement which is purely reactive; the stock door initiative is based on response and a ‘right first time’ completion. “There are many reasons why residents and homeowners require a new entrance door at short notice; including forced entry by police officers. Delivery of a replacement door can take three to four weeks so in the meantime the property is often fitted with a temporary timber door. The temporary door offers little in the way of performance, security and aesthetics,” comments Adrian Sunter, sales director for Permadoor. “Our stock door initiative not only speeds up the entire process but has the potential to save money; cutting unnecessary visits to site, additional man-hours, fuel and associated costs.
“We work in partnership with the individual housing association or local authority to confirm the style of composite GRP door and the finish of the ironmongery; with hardware including a spyhole and letterbox as standard. All of which is then supplied through a preferred builders’ merchant, in this instance, Robert Price,” said Adrian.
David Pattison, public sector coordinator for Robert Price Builders’ Merchant said: “Permadoor is assisting us in becoming a one-stop-shop for housing associations. We were already engaged with a number of key customers to find a solution that tackled lead-times, and so when Permadoor approached us with this initiative it fitted the bill perfectly. We held a seminar at our Newport branch to discuss the pilot scheme and gauge reaction. It was well-attended by HA and LA representatives from across South Wales, and proved to be invaluable, it has enabled us to approach this scheme in a way that works for all parties, right from the word go!
“It is a very responsive offer; what it lacks in choice is more than compensated by the fact that the resident is safe and secure in their home within a day of the incident. The costs savings to the housing associations and contractor also make this a win-win solution.”
Melin Homes is one social landlord already benefitting from the stock doors. Lyndon Probert, surveyor for Melin Homes commented: “We have used the stock doors on a number of occasions and in a variety of situations; on one occasion the original door was fire damaged and we were able to use a stock door as a replacement. The Robert Price branch in Newport always has a good supply, and our work teams are finding both the doors and the supply-chain reliable. The doors are also easy to install. Our residents are happy with the security that they provide.”
With 18 branches in total, the pilot scheme is currently being supported using the Robert Price fleet of HGVs. “Each of our branches serves a particular region,” commented David Pattison, public sector coordinator for Robert Price Builders’ Merchants. “At the moment we are focussing our ‘off-the-shelf’ efforts in and around Newport and Cardiff but as our service area extends over to the border counties and into the Welsh Valleys, we are responding to stock door requests further afield, and still retaining our Next-Day-Delivery policy.”
