Bishop Auckland, Durham

The Bishop Auckland refurbishment project, is a stellar example of K Systems ability to harness years of expertise with forward-thinking innovation to meet the needs of its clients.

Durham Homes commissioned K Systems to refurbish its residential development of 120 terraced houses. The primary aim of this project was to improve the thermal performance rating of each home. The challenge for K Systems was to provide a suitable EWI solution whilst retaining the character of the homes by replicating the existing brick and stone walls.

Due to this unique mix of required finishes, we were presented with an extremely complex project that required careful attention of several aesthetic and design considerations.

Having a good reputation for matching systems with finishes to deliver clients’ visions, we worked in collaboration with our approved installer Westdale Group, to scope out the project and specification in fine detail, with particular focus on insulating properties and aesthetic.

These poorly insulated brick and stone terraced houses were given a thermal upgrade to enhance occupier comfort. An attractive brick render finish was used over insulation to provide an aesthetic finish that is in keeping with the current street scene.

This satisfied the client’s requirements whilst providing a total revamp for the properties, which has resulted in energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing homes for the client and residents.

Our Service

We worked in collaboration with Durham Homes and approved installer Westdale Group to upgrade these poorly insulated brick and stone terraced houses and deliver a total revamp of the properties, resulting in thermally efficient homes.

The project was completed with minimal disruption to existing residents, and due to forward planning and regular site visits by an experienced K Systems project manager, where processes and progress were monitored and evaluated, the project was completed within the agreed timescale.

Our Application Specialists visited the site regularly throughout the project working in collaboration with the approved contractor to ensure correct installation and detailing.

As a result, we delivered an excellently designed and expertly executed refurbishment, that exceeded the expectations and requirements of the client, Durham Homes, and the residents of the newly improved homes.

Joe Rogers at Westdale Group, said:

“To deliver such a large project (120 houses), it requires multiple teams to work seamlessly together and have absolute trust in the other’s skill, vision, and judgement. That’s exactly what we had with K Systems on this Bishop Auckland project. The team’s innate understanding of pairing systems with finishes for optimal performance is second to none and together we delivered a best-in-class refurbishment which was an absolute pleasure.”

Technical Project Details

Effective demand planning and technical detailing ensured that the Durham Homes project was completed on time in March 2022.

Having comprehensively assessed the project requirements, taking into consideration thermal u-value target, aesthetics and cost, our K Systems E BrickRend EWI system was specified. This high-performing system is lightweight utilising expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels that are enhanced with graphite to further enhance thermal performance.

The E BrickRend system has a fire performance rating of B2-s1,d0. It’s low moisture absorption and resistance to mould growth ensures a high level of durability.

The system was specifically tailored to meet the thermal performance criteria of the project. Utilising 90mm EPS panels, the target U-value of 0.30W/m2K was achieved, delivering the benefits of improved thermal comfort and lower heating costs for residents, whilst helping the local authority achieve it’s environmental carbon reduction targets.

Several finish options were considered to meet the client’s requirement of replicating the existing brick/stone appearance of the properties whilst remaining within the project budget.

K Systems specified BrickRend, a bespoke, specially formulated polymer render which was colour-matched to the existing masonry. It was then down to the skill of our approved installer to apply pigments to tint and shade the render surface and simulate the appearance of real stonework. The surface is then sealed to provide a long-term durability. A dash render finish was applied to the rear of the Bishop Auckland properties.

This particular finish didn’t just ‘fit the bill’ at the time of delivery, but is an economic, durable, lightweight solution, easily applied, with an increased bond strength compared to sand and cement, which will protect the insulation and structural fabric of the homes from environmental deterioration in years to come.

This customised finish and attention to detail is a perfect example of how K Systems works with all clients to fulfil any specific design criteria and go above and beyond the standard requirements to deliver superior quality.