The work at the Sainsbury’s store in Strathaven, Lanarkshire, was carried out on behalf of Barr Construction; the main contractor for the original build and a regular customer of Plastic Surgeon.
There is a need to carry out snagging operations at the end of any build programme and Barr Construction has come to realise how much quicker and more economically Plastic Surgeon can complete such tasks. It is also viewed as far more sustainable to repair rather than replace: a consideration at the core of the retail giant’s mission statement.
As is often the case where multiple trades use ladders, cherry pickers and other means of access, some of the reconstituted stone cladding panels had been chipped, while there were also cracks and discolouration to the body of some sections. Furthermore, the high quality cladding featured a swirling random pattern in several colours, while one of the affected areas was directly above the cash-point, or ATM, at the front of the building.
Therefore to minimise disruption for the supermarket’s customers, and to mitigate the health and safety implications, Plastic Surgeon’s Finisher, accompanied by the company’s Scottish Manager arranged to begin the repair work at 7-00 am, before the store opened to the public. Safety barriers were erected around the work area and an aluminium alloy tower scaffold used to access the affected area some three metres above the ground.
Initially the Finisher employed rapid hardening two-pack fillers to restore the chipped and scratched sections of the inch thick panels to slightly proud of their original profile, before smoothing them back by hand and with power tools.
Then using the pigments that all of the Plastic Surgeon’s Finishers carry in their van kits, the operative mixed a series of colours including red, orange and a sandy yellow. These were then sprayed on using the compressor set at a very low pressure to achieve the correct texture.
This technique was repeated on the separate section of the façade near to the trolley bay, with all work being completed by the end of the eight hours allocated in the original quote.
The Site Agent for Barr Construction, Mr Gordon Forrester, commented: “This was a sensitive task given that the work had to be carried out in an area normally used by the public. Plastic Surgeon cooperated fully in providing a safe working plan and beginning early in the morning, while the finisher involved did a very good job in repairing and colour matching the damaged areas. Replacing these panels would have been far more disruptive and costlier.”
Not only has Plastic Surgeon worked extensively for Barr Construction on colleges and other education projects in the run up to handover, but the success of the work at Sainsbury’s Strathaven store resulted in the specialist being requested to return and repair more cladding to the rear of the building, plus two hand dryers fitted in a washroom.
