INCA Case Study: Long Street, Swinton

The terraced houses of Long Street, Swinton in Greater Manchester were in serious need of an extreme transformation and refurbishment both inside and out.

The houses should have been an attractive living option in the city of Salford but instead, they were unappealing to potential residents, an eyesore for surrounding neighbours, and in desperate need of modernisation.

The homes were also well below-par in terms of thermal performance rating making it extremely difficult and expensive for tenants to heat, especially with rising energy costs in the current cost of living crisis.

Having worked with K Systems on previous award-winning projects in the Manchester area, Salix Homes chose K Systems to work on this project due to its industry leading knowledge and long-standing reputation for delivering superior quality builds across the UK. The main project requirements for the Long Street low rise refurbishment were to:

• Significantly improve thermal comfort for residents
• Achieve an A1 insulation non-combustible fire rating
• Deliver a modern, clean aesthetic which replicated the brick effect of the property portfolio in the area
• Complete a refurbishment to PAS2035 standards

K Systems teamed up with Arcus Consulting, Profac, and True Line Building to tackle the refurbishment and transform them from run-down residence to in-demand dwellings.

Solution, Specification, Challenges and Results:

After a comprehensive scoping process taking into consideration client requirements, project objectives, budgets and timeframes, K Systems specified the industry-proven Mineral Wool insulation system for the project to address the aged façade and significantly boost thermal performance of the properties.

K Systems Mineral Wool insulation (a mat of rock fibres which prevents the movement of air) has an industry-leading ability to generate exceptional thermal performance. That made it the perfect choice for the Swinton refurbishment as it would combat the heating issues faced by residents whilst retaining the solid foundations of the existing building.

Other technical benefits which made the K Systems 110mm Mineral Wool system the ideal specification for this refurbishment include:

• its level of fire resistance and non-combustibility, an A1 rating on insulation, ensuring the building met all safety regulations required for residential buildings in England
• its excellent acoustic properties
• its environmentally friendly composition as it is free from gases with ODP (ozone depletion properties) or GWP (global warming potential)

During the project scoping process, the building was found to be extremely susceptible to cold-bridging issues which could have resulted in major problems for residents including damp and mould.

K Systems eradicated that issue during the refurbishment process by utilising XPS (extruded polystyrene) insulation below the DPC – a rigid foam providing a strong, yet lightweight and flexible insulation solution that is extremely resistant to water absorption.

The inclusion of XPS insulation in this project also helped K Systems complete the refurbishment to PAS2035 standards – a specific requirement by Salix Homes and the rest of the project team.

New sills that were fitted also contributed to the refurb meeting PAS2035 standards.

 With the EWI fulfilling the requirements of Salix Homes, K Systems’ focus then turned to another of Salix Homes’ bespoke requests – the finish.

The property portfolio in the area had a brick finish and therefore, Salix Homes wanted their rejuvenated and enhanced houses to standout performance wise but not aesthetically.

Brickrend, a specially formulated polymer render which simulates the appearance of brickwork, and a silicone render finish was applied to the fronts of the buildings to maintain the brick street scene, whilst thin coat render was specified for the rear of the properties and gables.

It was a challenge for K Systems to blend into adjacent properties as well as ensure an aesthetically appealing interface between the different finishes, however, they achieved it seamlessly and to the 100% satisfaction of Salix Homes.

Completed Project:

 K Systems, together with Arcus Consulting, True Line Building, and Profac, completed the refurbishment of the Long Street properties to exact requirements, within timeframes and within budget so a huge success all round and testament to the EWI providers’ ability to:

• Improve thermal quality of properties, improving the U-value from 2.13W/m²K to 0.29W/m²K
• Execute top-quality finishes
• Meet industry PAS2035 standards

Testimonials:

“We are pleased that our Long Street Project has received such high praise from our client, this is testament to our trusted supply chain partners K Systems & Profac working seamlessly in collaboration with our site management team to provide a high-quality installation. The installation of the brick effect finish is a standout feature of the project.”

Mike Hyde, Managing Director. Truline Construction