Experts - are they all the same?
The definition of an expert has been questioned over time. I believe the answer lies with the expert who can give the solution without looking. This is really clever and you can get so much more done without ever getting near a problem. Politicians do it all the time. This art was first perfected however by builders.
I had a job completed a year ago which involved the redecoration of a splendid large room in a splendid large house in a splendid part of the world. All was good with the world until mould was seen affecting the decoration in the bay ceiling area. Poor decoration was the cry from the insurance company. We have to go and put it right was the demand. I went along to see what the problem was.
The decoration indeed was poor in the bay and some of the original paper (not put up by me 100 years ago)Â was hanging down and threads of whispy rot were in between the plaster and the original paper. My verdict was “this needs looking at behind the plaster and then we can make some decisions”. Sensible so far?
The experts came along with a longer list of letters behind them than an MP’s expense account, “it is categorically not rot”. This is a bold statement of which there can be no return. It is in total contrast to mine which is “lets take a look behind the plaster”.
I have spoken to the loss adjuster and he agreed to let me remove the plaster. We did just that to find, beyond doubt, dry rot. A nasty infliction to any house that needs to be sorted properly. Now the situation is the roof needs to come off and new lead put back afterwards.
The expert would have had someone just paint over the mess and leave it for six months. By this time the rot would have affected other rooms floors and ceilings, four of which are adjoining this area. All of those rooms would have had to be pulled apart resulting in tens of thousands of pounds of work and disruption beyond belief.
The moral of this story is that experts are not always right. Judgement needs to be made and common sense should be applied. What seems like the right approach? What feels right at the time? Never be afraid to ask more questions. It is your house, your pain, if it goes wrong ask another “expert” if required to do so, seek another opinion.
I am not saying this because I was proved to be right but because no human being could have had the answer this expert gave, only the bionic man could have seen through the plaster! As a mere mortal without any expert mentality, I feel I gave the right advice, “it needs looking at”. Don’t, whatever you do, ignore it. Dry rot especially doesn’t just go away.
Developing Property?
Developing Property? If you’re developing property which you don’t intend to live in, you are likely to have legal responsibilities for health and safety. Anyone developing property and having construction or building work carried out has legal duties as a ‘client’ under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 unless they are a domestic client. Read more here: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/property-developer/index.htm
