In 2009 Lawtech Ltd secured the external refurbishment of 10 medium sized tower blocks for Ashford Borough. The contract was to upgrade the blocks’ thermal performance and in addition to upgrade existing balcony screens, concrete repairs and other ancillary works. The overall value of the project was £1.5m.

Acting as Principal Contractor, Lawtech was ultimately responsible for the design, specification and installation of the external wall insulation system, together with Argeton terracotta tile cladding to the ground floor. The construction type was Wimpey No-Fines - a fairly common form of system house developed by George Wimpey & Co Ltd from the mid-1940’s with in excess of 300,000 low rise dwellings constructed. The No-Fines external walls are commonly 8 or 9 inches thick, cast in situ using a clinker or similar type of aggregate 1/8 inch and 1/2 inch gauge. This can cause issues with overcladding systems such as external wall insulation and many clients are persuaded to use more of a structural system spanning floor to floor.

However, on this project technical back up from head office assisted the on-site team with the numerous fixing pullout tests and structural calculations required on the existing No-Fines façade. This ensured that over 6,000m² of Insulation was securely fixed, and capable of supporting the weight of approximately 4,500m² of Alumasc External Wall Insulation, and 1500m² of terracotta cladding. The insulation installed increased the thermal performance of the building to current building regulations.

In addition to the main element described above, Lawtech also replaced the balcony screens with a powder coated panel, completely replaced the rain water components, carried out a full structural survey, concrete repairs and protective coatings and demolished the existing entrance canopies enabling a new entrance to be formed.

Successfully completed in November 2009, Ashford Borough Council continue to involve Lawtech in their refurbishment schemes, and Lawtech were pleased to be awarded the National Insulations Association “Best Hard to Treat Project 2009” for this project.

Lawtech is one of the largest installers of external wall insulation systems across the UK with offices in Rochester and Glasgow. Lawtech is UKAS accredited to ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 and is an active member of both the NIA & INCA.

Lawtech is able to act as a Principal Contractor on multi million pound “green” retrofit schemes installing and managing multiple energy saving measures, and in addition as a specialist façade contractor working with other contractor partners. We are able to offer advice and assistance in respect to grants and funds schemes available under CERT, CESP and from 2013 Green Deal.