Industrial Unit,
Falkirk
The Client
Starfish Construction work with the UK’s leading commercial property managers and consultants who are regulated members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Regulation offers their clients confidence, security and professionalism by assuring international standards and providing professional guidance.
Hollis Global is a RICS regulated international commercial real estate consultancy that supports its clients at every stage of the property cycle. As an existing client of Starfish Construction, Hollis Global invited us to tender for the works on this dilapidation project. Our effective processes and technical expertise ensure best-in-class delivery, sustainability and lifespan for their clients’ property portfolios.
The Project
After the previous tenants vacated the premises at the end of their lease, the owners of Forbes Court, Falkirk, wanted to re-let the facility as quickly as possible. Due to years of wear and tear, the only option was to upgrade the facility to make it lettable. The building is a typical portal frame structure with half-height brick walls and cladding. The roof on this building is asbestos cement, requiring specialist treatment.
The works included applying a coating system to the existing asbestos cement roof, strip out, painting and repairs internally, applying a new resin flooring, and upgrading the electric and gas boilers. We also installed new kitchens and bathrooms, plus timber and joinery repairs. Externally we also carried out fabric repairs and replaced or repaired gutters and downpipes.
- Trained installer of BBA approved asbestos cement coating system
- Asbestos coating carried out under HSE guidelines, and all waste consignment notices issued to the client for their records
- A water diversion system installed to divert any contaminated waste into a special holding tank before disposal
- We carried out ‘closed box cleaning’ on the existing asbestos roof to prevent watercourse contamination
- Directly employed skilled multi-trades flexible workforce
- Completed to a high standard and to the client’s deadline
£130,000
Value
11 Weeks
Duration
530 m2
Roof Area
Challenges and Solutions
When working with asbestos material, operatives require specialist knowledge to ensure safety at all times. Our directly employed team undertook additional training through the manufacturer to clean and coat the existing asbestos roof. Starfish Construction is currently the only BBA contractor approved to apply this type of asbestos cement coating system in Scotland.
Our team stripped out the existing decayed suspended ceiling and installed it with a new, modern system. We supplied and installed new energy-efficient roof lighting, creating a modern, bright interior. We laid new carpet tiles in the office area, sanded, plastered and repainted the walls, and the window ledges were repaired and freshly painted.
Outcome
On completion of the works, the roof was watertight and guaranteed for ten years. All the internal refurbishment works of the offices, bathrooms, kitchen and warehouse space made the unit ready for let and shortly after completion, a new tenant signed a lease on the building. The let was much quicker due to the quality of the upgrade works delivered by Starfish Construction.
At the time, Starfish Construction had not carried out a liquid coating process on an asbestos roof. Our operatives undertook the manufacturers training and certification to install their product safely and dispose of the waste correctly. The manufacturer monitored the process throughout to ensure we followed the correct procedures, allowing them to guarantee the coating for ten years.
This was an excellent project for Starfish Construction to be involved with and support. The liquid coating system, applied to an asbestos cement roof, bringing a new, safe and sustainable solution, was excellent. As a business, we continually encourage our directly employed trades to up-skill. We were delighted to see the successful training outcome by delivering a fantastic finished result on this project.
Kevin McCormack, Associate Director - Scotland
