Stormseal’s Matthew Lennox with storm victim Sugi Wignesan inside her laundry, now covered by Stormseal
After devastating storms hit the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, on 9 October more severe weather followed, but 90 homes initially affected were protected from further damage by Stormseal™ – a new, state-of-the-art, patented material, designed to heat-seal buildings and roofs against wind and rain when damaged by storms or left open during construction. But more accredited fitters need training.
Nick Hatch, Director of Insurance Roofing Services – which looks after securing damaged homes following storms, said after more bad weather hit they received no calls to resecure covers from homes fitted with Stormseal™.
“When tarpaulins are used to cover storm-damaged roofs when more bad weather hits we are usually inundated with calls to come and resecure them. But this has not been the case with Stormseal,” he said.
“Importantly residents that initially had tarpaulins covering gaping roof holes said they felt more secure and safer in their home after Stormseal was fitted, plus reporting it was quieter as there were no more tarpaulins flapping about.
“This is a product that really works but the challenge is to get more people accredited to fit Stormseal, especially as storm season is upon us. For Victoria we had to fly in 15 trained fitters to meet the demand,” said Mr Hatch.
Stormseal™ inventor and Managing Director, Matthew Lennox, said the company is working with Pinnacle Safety and Training and offering Stormseal national accredited training programs to tradespeople while Australian insurance companies are hopeful more tradesman will be trained sooner rather than later.
“We need more people trained across the country as Stormseal™ will revolutionise the way tradespeople cover a house awaiting repair following a big storm or during construction, using a method that can allow residents to stay in the house because it is a water and wind tight system, whilst providing protection from further damage if storms continue,” he said.
Mrs Sugi Wignesan from Upwey, Victoria is one storm victim that now has Stormseal™ protecting her home after two massive gum trees crashed into the back of her house in the first storm.
“When the storm hit it was really scary as the wind was cyclonic. I knew in my heart I had to get into the garage, which is beneath the house, as within five minutes I heard the trees hit, taking out the study, my laundry, son’s bathroom and bedroom. The sound was terrifying but I had opened three doors to let the air through leaving the security doors closed, otherwise the whole house would have exploded with the internal pressure,” she said.
Sugi Wignesan house before and after Stormseal
“The SES and insurance company were very busy, so it was a whole day and many phone calls until finally the next day I had the tree removed and I many temporary tarpaulins installed, which was followed the next day by Stormseal™. I found this was far more secure, protective, less noisy and neat, plus it let in light and brightened up my gloomy destroyed home with no electricity to date.
“I am so grateful for Stormseal™ as more torrential rain and winds followed but not a drop of water came into my home. I sat under it feeling safe with no roof or ceiling and the rain just bucketing down salvaging remnants of my contents which were secure and safe from further water damage.
“Stormseal has made me feel safe and secure in my devastated home. I can get on with the clean-up and preparation for rebuilding without worrying about any more bad weather hitting. Even my builder was very impressed and interested in the product, he said that with the present unpredictable weather conditions he planned to work under it without removing it,” said Mrs Wignesan.
The idea for Stormseal came to Managing Director Matthew Lennox when he was overseeing repairs and reconstruction on behalf of several insurance companies following storm episodes and during continual wet and windy conditions, where he saw damages claims multiply fourfold due to failing tarpaulins. He also presented his invention on the ABC’s New Inventors show and it took off from there.
“It has been a long process but now we are now underway, especially as the Australian Government recently awarded us a grant of $450,000 to fund training and taking the product further to market which will benefit not only home owners but insurers as well,” Mr Lennox concluded.
For media enquiries please contact Sharon Kelly on 0414 780 077 or email sharon@gemaker.com.au
