CRL successfully completed a 52-week contract to upgrade two 16-storey residential blocks in Thurrock - almost 16 weeks ahead of schedule.

• Conditional Survey which highlighted the lack of brick ties to the infill panels.
  
  
• The application of 6000m2 of Wetherby Building Systems External Wall Insulation to the facades of each 16-storey tower.
  
  
• The bottom two storeys were finished with brick slips and the remainder with a dash finish.
  
  
• Structural strengthening, in the form of stainless steel straps.

The £1.2m contract for Brisbane House and Freemantle House was part of Thurrock District Council’s on-going programme of upgrading all of its social housing stock. It involved the installation of brick restraints followed by overcladding with a rendered insulation system.

The brick restraint system comprised the installation of stainless steel straps, spanning vertically between floor levels, as well as a number of additional brick ties inserted into the building’s concrete frame.  The insulation system comprised 6000m2 of 90mm thick mineral fibre insulation, which was fixed to the external envelope and overlaid with glass fibre mesh before receiving a reinforced polymer-modified render, completed with a dry dash spa finish.  A 500m2 area at the base of the building received phenolic insulation and a brick slip finish.  In order to minimise disruption to residents, all access was provided by mast climbers.

Client: Thurrock District Council

Final Contract Value: £1,200,000.00