Dulux Trade
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Dulux Trade offers the complete package
Catalyst Housing Group has given its Oxford housing stock a complete makeover, using Dulux Trade products to give its properties a fresh feel, both inside and out.
A large development of over 180 properties, comprising flats and houses, the project on Pegasus Road required a practical and cost-effective solution that would enable Catalyst Housing Group to refurbish the properties to the high standard with which it is synonymous. Therefore, the social housing agency called in Dulux Trade Contract Partner, DW Contractors, to undertake the task.
Through the Dulux Trade Contract Partnership scheme, contractors agree to work to a code of conduct, including regular independent on-site auditing and ongoing performance assessments, to ensure the highest standards of professionalism at every stage of a painting job. By working closely with the consultants at Dulux Trade, DW Contractors was able to specify a bespoke solution, using a variety of Dulux Trade products to meet the specific requirements of the project.
Steve McMahon at DW Contractors comments: "A high level of preparation was required before we began decorating as some areas had become considerably worn. If the underlying surface in any refurbishment project is flawed then paintwork is likely to appear imperfect too, and creating a solid foundation for the paint is vital to ensure a long lasting, professional finish.
"The exterior cladding on the houses also presented a severe knotting problem, so it was essential that we addressed this issue before applying a solution which would prevent the same problem occurring in the future."
Once the preparation work was complete, DW Contractors used a selection of Dulux Trade products on the exterior of the properties to create a superior finish. Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior High Gloss and Advanced Protection Opaque were specified for the exterior woodwork and cladding on the houses, providing long-lasting protection and helping to extended maintenance cycles, even in the most extreme weather conditions. Building on the most popular qualities of the Weathershield Advanced Protection Opaque product, Dulux Trade has recently launched Weathershield Ultimate Opaque. The new solution provides up to ten years' protection for exterior wood, offering customers additional financial and environmental savings by ensuring exterior wood is maintained to a high standard for even longer.
For the interior of the properties Dulux Trade Diamond Matt Light & Space was selected, not only to create a robust finish but also to make the communal spaces look and feel lighter, brighter and more spacious. Dulux Trade Diamond Matt Light & Space has significant environmental benefits - reflecting light instead of absorbing it - thus reducing the need for artificial lighting.
To ensure that the overall impact of the properties was impressive, Catalyst Housing Group and their lead consultant Consul Chartered Surveyors considered every aspect of the project that would need refurbishing, including the wooden fences and rails which surrounded the property. Cuprinol Shed and Fence - from the ICI Paints AkzoNobel woodcare portfolio - was applied to these features in order to create a sleek and polished finish.
Maria Hanrahan, Project Manager at the Catalyst Housing Group, comments: "Catalyst Housing Group specifies Dulux Trade products on all of its projects; quality and resident satisfaction are paramount. Our project partnering teams of contractors, consultants and internal specialists all work together to ensure that each and every task is delivered to a consistently high standard. On external maintenance and decoration projects it is important that the product is hard-wearing so that it protects exterior wood until the next cyclical maintenance cycle.
"On this particular project, our Technical Inspector, Rob Keegan, has worked very hard with DW to ensure that the painting work has been carried out in accordance with the bespoke specifications provided by Dulux Trade, throughout the project. DW Contractors has demonstrated a very professional approach and we are absolutely delighted with the quality of the work. We have already received feedback from residents to say that they are impressed with the results."
