Knauf Airless Finish specified for luxury North London care home development
Project Data
Value: £22m
Architect: PRP Architects
Main Contractor: Wates
Subcontractor: AT Plastering
Distributor: Encon Insulation
Products used: Knauf Airless Finish
Project Details
To ensure residents in this new luxury North London care home would feel entirely comfortable, the most efficient and futureproof materials were chosen. That’s why main contractor Wates specified Knauf Airless Finish for use throughout the development of the new Signature Care Home in Barnet.
Knauf Airless Finish is a highly efficient spray-applied alternative to traditional plaster for finishing walls and ceilings.
The site was formerly occupied by the derelict Marie Foster Centre, a bastion in youth care being the first of its kind in the country to care for young people with multiple sclerosis.
The site had become rundown, however there was still a requirement for a healthcare building in the area. The new Signature at Barnet will feature 102 ensuite bedrooms and host a wealth of communal facilities, including a café, lounges, fine dining experiences, cinema, hair salon and a therapy room.
Paul Gunn, Operations Manager – Drywall & Suspended Ceilings, for Wates Construction, piled on the praise for Knauf Airless Finish: “I selected Knauf Airless Finish as I think it’s the future for a few reasons. First, the quality of application and finish is excellent compared to traditional plastering. Second, the skillset required for application is something that is simple to teach and learn, making the system easily accessible.
“Finally, for ceilings below 3 metres you can actually apply Knauf Airless Finish from the floor without requiring low level access equipment, therefore less risk is involved during application.”
Andrew Mansfield, Director of AT Plastering, describes why the Company enjoy using Knauf Airless Finish so much: “From a health and safety perspective, the fact that it comes ready-mixed means there’s little dust inhalation, plus the system contains 0.01% of Silica, so the risk reduction is massive. It also requires less pressure being asserted when troweling, reducing the risk of conditions like tennis elbow.
“Knauf Airless Finish is a smart choice for the client also, as the system uses up to 65% less water on site compared to traditional systems. In turn, this means fewer standpipes are needed through the site resulting in the client paying less for an excellent quality finish. Visually, they have a completely smooth white box to work with after.”
Having stood empty since 2011, the redevelopment of this site will see the area put to good use, benefitting the local community.