Gateshead Housing Company - Mixed-Use Development - Tyne and Wear
Date: 04 Jan 2008
Gateshead Housing Company is using Novabrik, an innovative dry built, brick cladding system from Acheson & Glover, for the refurbishment and improvement of over 400 homes in the Tyne and Wear area.
The project, is one of Gateshead Housing Company's maintenance and improvement packages under the Communities and Local Government's [formerly ODPM], Decent Homes initiative, which requires that over 3.6m homes throughout the country are brought up to a minimum standard of repair, facilities and insulation by 2010.
Gateshead housing Company manages a stock of 22,500 homes, included within that are a diverse range of non-traditionally constructed buildings from the early 1960's. Over the years, shortcomings in their design, construction and insulation values have come to light, requiring major remedial work to bring them up to living standards that will ensure their longevity.
This tranche of 400 houses is being refurbished under a strategic partnership arrangement with Morrison Facilities Services. The work involves stripping out glazed screens in "Wimpey No-Fines" properties as well as front and rear walls of the "NEMA and Gateshead Butterfly" houses on the Beacon Lough and Harlow Green Estates, respectively and installing new, insulated timber-framed structures faced with Novabrik, brick cladding to receive new windows as part of a package of improvement works.
NEMA and Gateshead Butterfly were the names given to these non-traditional, "Cross-wall" type house construction methods which were a feature of 1960's social housing. They comprised quickly built, structural cross-walls with predominantly glazed, timber framed front and rear elevations, which have required regular maintenance throughout their lives. Severe thermal loss and rot at the base of the timber framing meant that these areas now had to be replaced.
Firstly, a complete new timber frame is installed using larger section timbers. New PVCu windows are then fitted and the areas beneath ground floor windows thermally insulated and clad in Novabrik.
Initially, the refurbishment specification had been for a brick effect polymer render, but consultation with Ancheson & Glover and specialist sub-contractor St Astier, resulted in a decision to change to Novabrik, mortar-less brick cladding.
"Speed of installation in all weather conditions was very important to us because the houses remained occupied throughout the work. Novabrik gave us much better control over quality and, after stripping out and replacing the old defective timberwork and windows, we could complete the re-cladding of a house within one working day." commented St Astier Contracts Director Ranson Og.
Gateshead Housing Company was also keen to improve the overall appearance of the houses. Russell Urwin, Senior Contract Administrator for Gateshead Housing said. "We wanted our tenants to be pleased with the look of their homes and Novabrik has a very traditional looking brick appearance. It's also recognised as an innovative, modern method of construction. For us, it ticked all the boxes"
Novabrik is a mortarless, dry built cladding system that comprises brick sized interlocking tiles which lock together to form a weather-proof outer skin for timber framed, steel-framed or concrete panel structures. It is also suitable for use with conventional block-work walls or ICF [Insulated Concrete Formwork] systems.
The interlocking construction works as a cladding system with units overlapping to prevent water from penetrating the wall.
Originally developed in collaboration with Canada's National Research Council, Novabrik is manufactured under licence for the UK and Irish markets by building materials specialists, Acheson & Glover Group.
The main benefits of the Novabrik System are speed of installation and the fact that no wet trades are needed, meaning that installation can continue in virtually all weather conditions. Novabrik is suitable for new-build as well as refurbishment projects. Savings in installation times of up to 50% have been experienced, resulting in earlier occupancy and overall reductions in contract duration.
Work began on the Gateshead Housing refurbishment project in April 2007 and will continue until mid 2008.
Gateshead housing under construction
Where do I go now?: » View the latest news items » View the news archive » Subscribe to Weekly Construction Newsletter » Submit news
