News
Award Achievement for Mark!
Friday 22nd June saw the finale of PCA's annual conference - The Best Practice Awards Dinner! The awards dinner was a triumph for our Surveyor Mark who bagged an award for waterproofing technician of the year. At Yorkshire Dampcourse we have a thirst for knowledge and we feel that everyone should have a hands-on technical understanding of how our [...]
Property Level Flood Resilience Training for Surveyors
This week our Director Matthew Tucny and Surveyor Mark Smith attended a Property Care Association (PCA) group training session on Property Level Flood Resilience Training for Surveyors held at their Huntingdon headquarters. Although we have over 10 years experience in this field it is an ever-changing industry and as experts, we feel it is important […]
Property Care Association (PCA) Launch New Video: Moisture In Buildings
The PCA are the trade association representing the building preservation industry and help consumers with finding reputable specialists to identify and repair their problems. Yorkshire Dampcourse are full contractor members. Increasingly, members of the PCA are coming across incidences of excessive moisture in properties, and the resulting affects of condensation, damp and mould that result. A […]
Property Care Association (PCA) Produces Retrofit Insulation Video
Improving the thermal rating of our homes is widely encouraged with reduced carbon emissions and energy cost savings being the main focus. This has led to the growth of industries specializing in this field installing insulation often at a government subsidized rate. However, without a greater understanding of the impact of such improvements, the result […]
Catrake Ltd appoints new Company Secretary
Catrake Ltd. trades as Yorkshire Dampcourse and has 3 directors (who are also the three shareholders). Correct regulation of the company has been the responsibility of former company secretary Fiona Hughes. Fiona stepped down as company secretary today, having held the position from the company’s startup in August 1991. We are very grateful for the […]
It’s our 25th Birthday!
Yorkshire Dampcourse is the trading name of Catrake Ltd, which was incorporated on 6th. August 1991. Previously Yorkshire Dampcourse was set up as a limited company by a previous owner, and started to trade in 1974. Catrake Ltd bought the goodwill and assets in 1991 after the company ceased trading. To celebrate this 25-year milestone […]
MD, Martin Hughes, Gains Certified Surveyor of Japanese Knotweed (C.S.J.K) Qualification
During December 2015 Martin Hughes, Managing Director of Catrake Ltd (trading as Yorkshire Dampcourse), took the new Property Care Association (PCA) Invasive Weed Group qualification examination "Certified Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed" - C.S.J.K. During February 2016 the results were (at last) announced, confirming a pass and allowing the use of the qualification initials above. These [...]
Glyphosate Announcement by EFSA
At the PCA Invasive Weed Conference in September 2015, the subject of glyphosate safety was raised and discussed. Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide to treat invasive weeds – especially Japanese knotweed. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced that glyphosate does not demonstrate carcinogenic or mutagenic properties and has no toxic effect on fertility, […]
BBC News Cover Giant Hogweed Warning
BBC News recently covered a story to raise public awareness over the dangers of Giant Hogweed. Click on the link to read the article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-33474810
Mark Smith wins Student of the Year at PCA Awards 2015
Mark Smith – winner of the Property Care Association (PCA) “Student of the Year Award”. We are very proud of Mark’s achievement, which adds to his first class honours degree in Building Surveying from Leeds University. Mark obtained the highest examination marks (with merit) in all three of the modules (damp, timber and health, safety […]
Knotweed or Not Weed? Correct Identification of Japanese Knotweed
It is this time of year that Japanese knotweed (JK) begins to grow ahead. We have noticed that some of our clients have difficulty in identifying it. An example of this occurred recently when a client believed he had JK on his property. Turned out that he did not – but his neighbour did. What […]
YDC installs flood defence panels to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust property in Kilnsea
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Kilnsea base, and its cafe, are located in Kilnsea on the approach road to the beautiful Spurn Head Nature Reserve – that great sweep of sand bank to the east of Hull. As well as being a stunning place for bird life, being right on the coast means that the area is […]
TrustMark enquires hit a new high
TRUSTMARK HIT RECORD NUMBERS FOR 2014 – Searches for accredited tradesmen up 38% – Following last winter’s extreme weather, flood prevention measures have been a priority for many homeowners according to TrustMark, who announced that it has recorded its highest number of tradesmen details on its website, www.trustmark.org.uk to date. More than 7.2 million search results were provided to homeowners who used TrustMark’s website and telephone […]
Mark Smith CSRT, with full merit – YDC surveyor scoops top marks
At YDC we are all chuffed for our colleage Mark Smith who has achieved credits in all three of the modules that make up the formal qualification Certified Surveyor in Remedial Treatment (C.S.R.T) Mark joined YDC last year, coming back to the UK from growing herbs in Portugal! However, his first class honours degree in Building Surveying […]
YDC visited the recent Flood Expo exhibition in London ExCeL
YDC Director, Matt Tucny and Cook Group Ltd managing director Dave Cook visited the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London for the annual Flood Expo recently. This was the first show of this kind and also launched the Property Care Association Flood Group. YDC are a founder member of this group. The show gathered together for the […]
The Property Care Association publishes Japanese knotweed Guidelines
The Property Care Asociation (PCA) has published a very informative leaflet on Japanese knotweed and how to deal with it.Please click on the download below to see the leaflet. Yorkshire Dampcourse has been a contractor member of PCA since 1991. We are also founder members of the Invasive Weed Control Group – the specialists dealing […]
Matt Tucny has been appointed a Director of Catrake Ltd.
Catrake Ltd t/as Yorkshire Dampcourse is very pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Tucny, former Contract Manager, to the position of Director of the company. Matt joins the board of directors, which is now made up of Martin Hughes (Managing Director), Fiona Hughes (Director and Company Secretary) and Matt. Matt has also acquired ordinary […]
Property Care Association Launches Flood Protection Group
The Property Care Association has launched a new initiative that will deliver assurance and certainty to those looking to protect themselves from the worst effects of future floods. The new Flood Protection Group is being developed by the PCA to give consumers confidence in finding contractors, assessors and products that are right for the job. […]
It’s that time of the year when giant hogweed starts it’s growth to become one of the largest plants around…..
Giant hogweed is enjoying the warmer Spring weather and is growing away to produce one of the largest plants that you will see in the UK. With plants getting to over 2 metres in height, the flowering spikes can be even larger, producing a whorl of white flowers in the summer, which then produce the […]
Yorkshire Dampcourse management staff attend Property Care Association Awards Dinner – April 3rd 2014, at The Armouries, Leeds
From left to right the staff are: – Collette Green – Administrator Martin Hughes – Director (The guy in the Japanese kit is an actor from Histrionics Players) Hiding away: Rebecca Firth – Administrator Matt Tucny – Contracts Manager Mark Smith – Surveyor (with the sword) Matt Tucny prepares himself for the next customer! Mark […]
Government publishes guide to available grants for flood defence
The Government have today released information about the availability of grants for flood defence and flood resiliance, resulting from flooding that took place around the UK during December 2013 and onwards. More information can be obtained from: – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flood-support-package-for-homeowners-and-businesses
Ventilation Systems
From the 1st October 2010 domestic ventilation became “notifiable work” as part of the Building Regulations Approved Document Part F. With stringent regulations to meet, it is crucial that domestic ventilation systems are installed, inspected, and commissioned to the current standards to maintain compliance and system efficiency. Domestic ventilation “experts” must be trained and registered […]
Further NVQ success for YDC employees
Three YDC technicians have successfully completed their NVQ level 2 assessments in Structural Water Proofing. Additionally, our contract manager has also achieved the NVQ level 3 assessment in Site Supervision. We have a further two technicians to complete the NVQ 2, and when that is complete all technicians will be deems NVQ competent in Damp […]
Mark Smith passes the Timber module of CSRT formal qualifications
We are pleased to hear that Mark Smith, our new damp and timber surveyor, has passed his timber module, as part of the formal Certified Surveyor in Remedial Treatments (C.S.R.T) qualification. Mark passed the exam and viva voce with distinction (an indication that he performed near the top of the results table. Mark has been […]