Structural Renovations Limited has recently completed a 12 month concrete repair and specialist coating project at the iconic Hoover Building in Perivale, West London.
The building was constructed as a factory for the Hoover Company in 1933 to the design of Wallis, Gilbert & Partners, who were inspired by the Mayan and Aztec fashion displayed at the 1925 Paris Exhibition and remained operational until its closure in the 1982.
During the Second World War the factory was used to manufacture parts for various aircraft and the building was camouflaged with netting to help avoid being attacked.
Being of significant architectural importance the building was Grade II* listed in October 1980 and in 1989 Tesco purchased the site and set about converting the rear into a large supermarket, including sympathetic recreations of various original building motifs around its entrance and car park.
In 2016 Structural Renovations were employed to carry out a condition survey of the concrete to the original structure and from the results of the survey we developed a specification for its repair and protection, based on the use Sika products.
We were duly instructed in March 2017 to commence the repair and restoration works and following an initial clean we were able to identify all spalling/defective concrete. Where required the concrete was repaired using a polymer modified repair system, combined with the installation of a vapour phase inhibitor, to control any ongoing corrosion in the embedded reinforcement.
Previously painted areas received a multi-coat elastomeric system and unpainted elements of the building had a clear anti-carbonation coating applied.
Finally, all existing sealants at the junction between window frames and painted concrete were raked out, prepared by priming and reinstated with a one part low modulus sealant.
During our external works the internal areas of the original building were converted into 66 luxury apartments by IDM Properties.
We are proud to have been involved in prolonging the life of this prestigious example of Art Deco architecture and it demonstrates the capabilities of our Company.
This year sees Structural Renovations Limited celebrate 25 years operating successfully in the specialist repair industry. The past quarter of century has seen many changes both within our sector and the world around us.
Looking back to 1993 and comparing it to 2018, it is immediately apparent how nothing has changed more obviously than the way we communicate in both our personal and working lives. Smart phones, email, social media and the internet seem a million miles from the basic mobile phones (still relatively new in 1993), pagers and fax machines….mind you 25 years before 1993 the letter, post-card and telegram were all still very much in use!
We began trading in April 1993, above a bike shop in Ruislip High Street, with one computer and a land line, offering to carry out diagnostic surveys, concrete repairs and waterproofing. By 2000 we had relocated to larger premises in Langley and were able to offer additional services, such as high-performance coatings, carbon fibre strengthening and the application of reinforced liquid applied roof/balcony membranes. We moved to our current premises in George Green in 2003, at that point having traded for 10 years, having firmly established ourselves within the market place, complete with an enviable list of blue chip, repeat business clients.
Adding masonry stabilisation and the ability to provide aesthetically acceptable finishes to a wide range of structures, we were now able to assist in the repair and restoration of listed and architecturally significant buildings. The Barbican Estate, The Royal Hospital and Somerset House are among some of the most recognisable projects we have completed, together with Colchester Castle, The Palladium Theatre, Worth Abbey and most recently the iconic Hoover Building.
Our long-serving office and site management teams provide the backbone to the business, which has allowed us to develop long-standing relationships with building surveyors, structural engineers, architects, as well as local authorities, housing associations and private bodies.
If you would like to discuss a current or upcoming project or would like to meet us on site or at your offices, please get in touch.
Structural Renovations commenced work in October this year at this purpose built residential development, comprising 3 linked blocks, in southwest London.
Our brief was to survey, prepare and repair the exposed faces of the reinforced concrete slabs, which form the floors and roof.
Previous repairs and coatings had deteriorated, together with additional defects that had developed since the last maintenance scheme and the survey identified extensive damage.
All defective concrete was removed back to sound material and the edges square-cut to prevent feather-edging. Any exposed reinforcement was cleaned of corrosion before being treated with 2 coats of corrosion preventative primer. The prepared defects were reinstated using a polymer rich, cementitious repair mortar, back to the original surface profile.
Following completion of repairs the previously decorated concrete was pressure-washed to remove loose and failed coatings, to form a stable substrate, upon which a coat of water based, epoxy modified surface primer was applied. The primed surfaces were then treated with 2 coats of a pigmented, anti-carbonation coating to afford protection to both repaired and existing concrete but also to provide a uniform aesthetically pleasing finish.
The works were accessed from a fixed scaffold and completed within a restricted programme period, to the satisfaction of our client.
Structural Renovations have carried out refurbishment works at Safestore’s Head Office in Borehamwood. The building previously housed the Royal National Lifeboat Institution head quarters and was used for making parts, storing supplies and examining damaged boats from 1939 up until 1976.
The rendered and concrete surfaces to each façade were hammer tested and defective render and concrete was removed back to a sound substrate.
In some locations the brickwork beneath the render had cracked and required the installation of Helifix Helibars to reintroduce the structural integrity, particularly to the two front corners.
Repairs were carried out using Weber.Cem HB30 and Weber Cullamix Tyrolean to match the existing rendered finish.
The whole building was then overcoated using Weber.Cote Smooth and the cills, feature bands and plinth was overcoated using Dulux Weathershield Smooth to match Safestore’s corporate colours.
Structural Renovations have recently completed a large concrete repair and coating project at a senior school in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
Furze Platt Senior School is a mixed school, with 1,250 pupils, which opened in 1963.
The School is comprised of multiple flat roofed, concrete framed buildings of varying heights, typical of the period they were constructed.
We surveyed the buildings in 2016, in order to provide the Governors with budget costings, which allowed them to apply for the required funding, which was awarded to them in May this year.
Originally it was planned that the works would be phased over 2-3 years but the decision was made to complete the entire project in a single phase, during the summer holidays.
A significant amount of scaffolding was required to the 21 elevations being repaired, which necessitated us mobilising prior to the closure of the School, whilst the pupils and staff were still present. Extreme care had to be taken to ensure pupils and staff were excluded from working areas and designated safe routes were implemented.
Once the School closed we commenced our works, which involved hammer testing and close visual inspections, prior to breaking out, square cutting, cleaning reinforcement and reinstatement using Flexcrete Technologies specialist repair mortars.
Following the repair process, all concrete was pressure washed and subsequently coated using Flexcrete Technologies pigmented anti-carbonation coatings.
In order for us to hand the School back in time for the beginning of the new term we were required to work both weekdays and weekends, at all times liaising closely with the School’s facilities team.
Although tightly constrained by time we completed the project as planned and in line with the budgeted funds.
Structural Renovations have recently completed works to install a reinforced liquid applied membrane to the concrete canopies over the shops on East Gate, Broad Walk, East Walk and Terminus Street in Harlow. The works also included concrete repairs and masonry stabilisation.
The works were carried out in two phases, in the first phase included the application of a reinforced, solar reflective coating to the canopies and concrete repairs and the introduction of expansion joints to the soffits. The top surfaces of the canopies were cleaned and then primed with Flexcrete Bond Prime, followed by the application of Flexcrete Roofdex HB reinforced with Flexcrete Cemprotec GFM 100. Concrete repairs to the soffit were carried out using Flexcrete Monolite. Finally expansion joints were installed, using Fosroc Nitoseal MS60, at regular centres to help prevent future cracking.
The second phase of works were to install Helifix DryFix ties into the large decorative panels on each corner of the building. This was to ensure there was a connection between the decorative panels and the underlying substrate. Following our installation the panels were subsequently rendered over by others to provide a uniform finish.