With an early Easter only just over, the summer break may appear a long time off and it probably seems a little strange to be planning already for the shutdown period. But it can be surprising how quickly the term can fly by, and it makes sense to be prepared well in advance of the final rush towards the end of the academic year. Fine words, and I'm sure most of you agree in principle, but why is it important to be planning so early?
The absence of pupils for a six week period in the summer provides the ideal opportunity for schools to carry out much needed maintenance work, with everything from routine repairs to more extensive building works scheduled into just a few short weeks. It's worth remembering that schools up and down the country are all going through a similar exercise, making this time of year the busiest period for contractors. This situation is coupled with the fact that the summer months are also the busiest time for the construction industry in general, taking advantage of the longer days and better weather. The net result of the high level of scheduled work through the summer months leads to an increased demand for skilled contractors in a market place which already has widely reported skills shortages.
When it comes to making the right materials choices, it goes without saying that there are a lot of practical and aesthetic factors to take into account, and it's important that you don't lose sight of long term objectives. You want to be assured that the products you select will stand the test of time - beware of cheap imitations which claim a range of features at tempting bargain basement prices, but all too often, result in reduced in quality and reliability. It makes sense to go for products that are proven to perform over time and come from a manufacturer you can trust.
Valerie Culpin, bursar at John Henry Newman School, commented: "We were very impressed when we had our first round of Altro products fitted back in 2006. They have stood up to wear incredibly well and our kitchen and servery walls and floors still look as good as the day they were installed. When we replaced the flooring in the Nash building classrooms and entrance hall recently, Altro was the obvious choice."
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