Fire-compliant façade works
and window remediation
Principal Contractor for Innovative Residential Project
The highest accolade you can receive in any business is to be recommended by a happy client. Starfish Construction is proud to say we have competitively tendered and successfully won several projects because of recommendations. A client we had worked with on several completed projects connected us with the developers, and they invited us to tender for the Warwick House project in Solihull, which we succeeded in winning.
The client appointed Starfish Construction as the principal contractor for the £700,000 project, which would take 19 weeks.
Helping deliver safe and compliant building remediation
Warwick House is a former office block in the heart of the town centre, converted into 32 one-bedroom apartments, ideal for first-time buyers and investors. We showcased our successful project portfolio to the client, giving them confidence in our planning, site operations, and reporting, which are crucial in fire-compliant façade works and window remediation.
Stage one of our process was to explore and analyse all elements of the building remediation works and materials, including:
- Assessing the client and consultants' specifications - a stringent set of parameters to meet, including off-site testing of the chosen replacement cladding types for the project.
- Our in-house Building Design division completing all design work, allowing us to ensure the project met the specific level of attention, detailing, and management needed to deliver safe and compliant building remediation.
- Appointing and consulting with specialists, including a Façade Structural Engineer, a project role that is crucial in undertaking structural and serviceability checks, including the approval of the correct fixings for the replacement cladding types.
Our team had to remove the existing windows and EPDM membrane around the windows and then reinstall the existing windows & new EPDM back to the existing structure, and design, supply and install 410 m2 of aluminium spandrel panels. Afterwards, the windows were reinstalled, and the EPDM membrane was reinstated to the existing structure. We installed Spandrel panels along with all associated works. Finally, we reboarded, made good, and painted. the internal reveals.
Project Challenges and Solutions
When a project involves commercial or residential occupancy, pedestrians, or significant road traffic through or past the property, our project management and site teams factor these into our project plans. We considered several factors at Warwick House, including occupied apartments within the block and the main entrance and delivery area facing into a road directly adjacent to a hospital.
Keeping the owners and leaseholders updated via our resident's hub with regular progress and planned work look-ahead notices was critical to the project, as well as maintaining accessible communication with all stakeholders, including our client. Our resident hub platform is one of our essential resources for residential projects.
Although the adjacent hospital isn’t an A&E unit, it does have a vital role in the community due to day surgeries and clinics. Ensuring the road was open at all times by bringing smaller, just-in-time deliveries was an essential planning element which paid dividends, with all material unloading done onsite and no deliveries made until after 9 a.m., avoiding the peak period for staff turnover at the hospital.
- Warwick House consisted of 32 one-bedroom apartments.
- Removal, replacement and reinstallation of 160 windows throughout the project
- 410 m² of aluminium spandrel panels designed, supplied, and installed
- All residents were kept informed via a resident hub platform, which provided regular updates and work schedules
- All works completed on schedule and to a high standard
- Access to nearby hospital managed effectively by coordinating deliveries outwith peak times
19 weeks
Duration
410 m2
Aluminium spandrel panels Installed
160
Windows removed and replaced
Successful Outcome
There are many positive outcomes within the project. From initial planning to completion, we’ve successfully:
- Completed within budget with project handover to the client according to the programme
- No reportable health and safety issues were encountered throughout the project
- Addressed and resolved the concerns of homeowners regarding water ingress, ensuring that no further problems arise
- Received exceptional feedback from residents expressing satisfaction with the service the Starfish Construction team provided, highlighting the project's success and the team's commitment to quality service.
Due to the nature of the existing issues, this was a sensitive project for our client, who has been delighted with the service provided by the entire Starfish Construction team. We worked tirelessly to ensure we adhered to stringent scheduled phases and kept the residents informed at all times. This project has been an example of how projects involving occupied property should be planned, managed and delivered.
Robert Morgan, Projects Director at Starfish Construction
