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SOLVING THE‘ POTHOLE PROBLEM’ OF FLOORING
Every winter the pothole problem sinks to new depths.
But it’ s no joke: potholes affect all of us, in our business and personal lives.
Our roads are peppered with more and more potholes – and there’ s even a National Pothole Day on January 15th.
37,000 miles – that’ s one in six local roads in England and Wales – desperately need an upgrade before they become dangerous. One third are inadequate and only 51 % are in good order. Those are the shocking findings of the 2023 report by the Asphalt Industry Alliance.
Plus, the backlog repair cost has jumped 11 % from 2022, to a new high of £ 14 billion – estimated to take a decade to complete.
Despite being designed for vehicles, traffic is one of the causes. Because it exacerbates the problem of rain, snow, frost and salt. If not fixed straightaway, a small crack can expand into 10cm deep, 1m wide hole. For your tyres it’ s murder.
CLAIM THE COMPENSATION YOU DESERVE
If your tyre gets a blow out, you could claim compensation. It won’ t stop you cursing or heaving on the wheel wrench to get back on the road. But it could take the edge off – exactly what you want the road maintenance repairers to do.
The government website states that to claim compensation, you need to tell whoever is in charge of the road what the damage was, why you think they’ re responsible, the specific location – the nearest marker post or feature are handy here – and the date / time the damage happened.
It’ s not always your local council. In England, if it’ s an A-road or motorway, it’ s probably Highways England. But for a London red route, you contact Transport for London.
Be quick: you have to get there before it’ s been noted and ringed: they spray a white ring around it.
THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM
Over 2 million roads – even brand new roads – are dug up every year by private gas, electricity, water and telecom companies. Anecdotally, people often believe that these utility repairs are not always up to the required normal standard.
In the UK, we usually have more potholes than our continental cousins, due to higher traffic loads; higher density of buried utilities and higher numbers of freeze-thaw cycles as our temperature tends to be above freezing with frequent dips below.
THE POT HOLE PROBLEM IN FLOORING
The pothole problem is similar to the flooring problem found by interior designers, architects, retailers and the furniture and flooring trades. Heavy furniture, stiletto heels and chairs scraped back and forth can severely damage flooring.
Fortunately, Stroolmount have a range of flooring protection products that help prevent the damage in the first place: the secret is cushioning.
Proven Stroolmount solutions include Furni-glides, interchangeable Quickclick Glides and Self-adhesive Felt – from as little as 1p per piece. And if the worst happens, family firm Stroolmount also have Flooring and Furniture Repair Kits.
Take a look and stop the pot holes in your flooring.
Winner of the Interiors Monthly award for Best Product Protection( Flooring), proudly displayed by Gill Finch, Managing Director of Stroolmount
www. stroolmount. co. uk