Overview
Anglia Decor was contacted by Paul Bryan Surveyors in January 2018 and asked to quote the external factory painting, re-mastic, repointing, and protective coatings at Frinton Court. The project comprised 2 smaller 4-storey blocks of flats and 1 larger 11-storey tower block. The works were awarded a few months later, and with an expected duration of 3–4 months, this was a CDM 2015 notifiable project. Anglia Decor notified the HSE of the start date and submitted a full construction phase plan, including details of all appointed subcontractors.
Access Strategy
We proposed carrying out the 2 smaller blocks via cherry picker, saving the cost of full scaffold access. All our operatives hold IPAF qualifications for mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) operation. The 11-storey tower block required a different approach, although it was reachable by cherry picker, scaffold was the safer and more practical option at that height. Hallmark Scaffold were appointed to erect the scaffold, a company we have worked with for over 6 years and trust to deliver on time and safely. All scaffolded areas were fitted with debris netting to maintain site safety throughout the works.
Mastic and Joint Works
The mastic works were carried out by Quality Mastics. All existing mastic to the 3 blocks was fully removed and replaced with a more durable polysulphide sealant, providing long-term weather resistance across all expansion joints, window perimeters, and panel interfaces.
Scope of Decorating Works
The external decoration programme covered the full envelope of all 3 blocks. All cracks in the render were raked out and filled with a lime, sand, and cement mix to match the existing finish. Any areas of rot were identified and reported to the surveyor, with additional costs agreed for repair work. All metalwork was rubbed down, primed to bare metal, and finished with Weathershield undercoat and gloss. All timber balcony components were rubbed down, primed to bare wood, and finished with 2 coats of Ultimate Weathershield wood stain. All rendered surfaces were primed bare and finished with 2 coats of Andura Proflex Ultimate, a high-performance masonry coating.
Waterproofing Works
All defective pointing across the 3 blocks was raked back and repointed. Lichen growth was removed by wire brush before treatment. We then applied 1 coat of Stormdry masonry protection cream to all brickwork areas across the 3 blocks. Stormdry is a BBA-certified, breathable waterproofing cream that prevents water ingress while allowing moisture vapour to escape from the substrate, protecting the brickwork against rain penetration and freeze-thaw damage.
Phased Delivery and Handover
Decoration work started on the smaller blocks while Hallmark Scaffold completed the first quarter section of the tower block. The tower block was broken down into quarter sections, and all mastic, repointing, decoration, and waterproofing works were completed section by section. On completion of each section, Paul Bryan Surveyors carried out a full snagging inspection. Once snagging was resolved, the scaffold was struck for that section before the next quarter commenced. The project was completed on time, on budget, and with positive feedback from both the surveyors and the residents of Frinton Court.
Frinton Court, Cyclical Decoration and Waterproofing|Frinton, Essex
