Weber External Wall Insulation (EWI) has been specified for the extensive refurbishment and thermal upgrade of apartment blocks on selected estates across the Forest Hill and Sydenham areas in south east London.
Housing giant L&Q has worked with British Gas to secure installation of Saint-Gobain Weber’s EWI system to eight 1960s blocks of flats. There is a potential to gain a further 15 blocks, equivalent to another 357 homes and an estimated total of 31,500m² of EWI.
“L&Q successfully took stock transfer of 3,500 homes in October 2010 following a large scale consultation and residents’ ballot,” says Paul Boughen, resident liaison officer, L&Q. “Over 120 properties on the Springfield Rise estate, which includes Springfield Rise, Rosamond Street and Dallas Road, are now nearing completion and we are receiving some very positive feedback from our tenants and leaseholders. At a time when fuel costs are rising L&Q see this as a great way to help their residents to heat their homes and improve their living standards.” L&Q owns and manages more than 70,000 homes across London and the South East making it the largest landlord in the capital and a major residential property developer.
The five-year Lewisham stock transfer project is on track for completion by 2015. To date over £40m has been invested in the transferred properties with the installation of new bathrooms, kitchens and boilers in every property. The EWI works are part-funded by L&Q and Centrica PLC, the multinational utility company operating as British Gas.
ECL Contracts, part of British Gas and specialists in façade systems, is the applicator of the EWI systems throughout this extensive project.
The application of weber.therm XM has significantly rejuvenated the appearance of the properties and dramatically improved the thermal performance of these homes.
Calculations prepared by Saint-Gobain Weber identified that a target U-value of 0.3W/m²K, from the original estimated U-value of 2.13W/m²K, could be achieved using 90mm thick grey expanded polystyrene (EPS). A decorative finish of weber.sil TF150, a synthetic, even textured finish coat, has achieved a durable and weather resistant, vapour permeable surface.
Colour has played an important part in the project and the concept at Springfield Rise estate was inspired by an autumn colour palette for use on the vertical and horizontal elements. I-beams and soffits have also been painted in a range of colours from Welsh Slate to Crème de Menthe, Rosemary & Thyme, Antique Sage and Winter White.
“We’re really happy to see these flagship projects being delivered on site and we hope to be able to deliver more EWI works in the future,” comments stock investment manager, Roddy Kaundun, L&Q. “Our residents are benefitting from the improved aesthetics of their neighbourhood but most importantly the significant improvement in comfort, reduced heating costs and carbon footprint.”
“In the stock transfer one of our main messages to residents was that comfort and living standards would be improved and with EWI capable of making such a dramatic difference it is helping us to deliver our promises.”
