This is the original Press Release for the ABC+D Social housing repair story submitted on May 12,

2011 For more information, visit http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/abq/abq284.html

Social housing is a valuable national asset. After all, it provides homes at below market rates for four million people across the UK. With some of the oldest social housing in Europe, a large proportion built in the post war boom years and most of it made from concrete, much of it has unfortunately fallen into a state of decay. But after years of neglect, how do we repair, maintain and extend the life of these high rise concrete buildings in the most cost-effective and reliable way? Sika takes a look at the available options... Government policy after the Second World War encouraged local authorities to use large scale construction companies who system built modern tower blocks to alleviate housing shortages. Concrete was integral in their designs - it could be poured on site, was long lasting and offered flexibility to building designers. Concrete decay. Over the years, the so called durability of these reinforced streets in the sky has become a serious issue. Demanding deadlines meant that planners often replicated design faults which led to concrete being beset with longer term problems. Premature deterioration, unexpected and uncontrolled cracking caused by corrosion of the reinforced steel, poor appearance and finish became the order of the day, so these high rise towers quickly lost their futuristic look. Making good our existing buildings The need to refurbish the nation's social housing blocks has become more pressing in recent years considering the increased costs in buying land and developing.

Forcing Local Authorities and Housing Associations to come up with innovative and high quality schemes to renovate their housing stock. A good example of the renovation potential of the post war modernist tower block is just a stone's throw from London's Columbia Road Flower Market. Designed by renowned architect Berthold Lubetkin in 1958, George Loveless House and the neighbouring James Hammett House were two of the first to feature high level blocks using reinforced concrete. But over the years, the two twelve-storey residential tower blocks had fallen into disrepair and the external coatings, walkways, columns, decks, aggregate panels and mastic joints were in need of serious refurbishment. Faced with significant structural damage caused by chloride penetration and the subsequent corrosion of the steel reinforcement, The London Borough of Hamlets needed a proven means of repairing the damage and protecting the steel reinforcement in the two buildings. "George Loveless House and James Hammett House were built in 1957 and due to lack of investment over recent times, the appearance of the building had been affected," commented Jamie Carswell, director of investment at Tower Hamlets Homes. "When Tower Hamlets Homes was set up in 2008 to manage the Tower Hamlets Council housing stock, both buildings were included on a programme of capital works. The concrete works helped to achieve a sympathetic restoration of the block and residents have been positive about the works. A range of products from Sika were selected." A long term solution. Following a careful assessment of the properties, consulting engineer, Engineering Design Associates, specified a range of concrete repair products from global building product manufacturer Sika. With the intention of repairing and protecting, the specification included high performance mortars, corrosion management systems and sealants. Sika's Armocrete, a cementitous, free flowing micro-concrete repair system, was used to repair large sections of the buildings columns while all the exposed concrete and brick surfaces on the building were protected by SikaGard 702W, a silicone coating which is water repellant and ensures the aesthetic appeal of these tower blocks.

On soffits and parapet walls, the flexible anti-carbonation coating SikaGard 675W was used as a protective coating and offers proven protection against weathering and ageing. Smaller repairs to soffits, columns, decks and aggregate panels were completed using the Sika Monotop Concrete Repair system. A cementitious one-part system which comprises polymer modified mortars, the system has an excellent resistance to water and chloride penetration, helping to prevent future damage to the concrete structure. Another vital requirement was the sealing of all joint repairs on the blocks to create a water and airtight building envelope. With incorrect specification of sealants often resulting in failure in the form of water ingress, air leakage, staining of building materials plus the associated cost with putting this right, Sika was able to advise on the best solution. This saw the use of Sikaflex AT Connection, a one part, moisture curing elastic sealant based on Hybrid Polyurethane technology. To complete the repairs, the balcony decks, which were badly cracked and letting water through, were attended to. To tackle the repair, the Sikafloor Pronto fully fleeced system was used. Comprised of a low viscosity primer, a self-smoothing screed and a flexible acrylic seal coat, the system offers excellent mechanical, chemical resistant and weathering properties. Featuring PMMA (polymethyl methacrylic) the fast-curing, non-slip resin flooring system is ready for foot traffic after one hour and fully cured after two, helping to minimise any disruption to the blocks residents. Preventing the corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete is essential. Sika's ecomomic concrete repair system - trusted to the extent that it was used on Spanish City, the world's oldest reinforced concrete dome - ensures that any structure will be able to stand the rigours of usage for years into the future. With each of the Sika products offering a proven track record exceeding the requirements of BS EN1504, the regulations for concrete repair and protection, and an easy installation process once on site, the concrete repair system specified offered Tower Hamlets Homes a cost-effective and reliable way to repair the damaged areas and extend the life of its properties.

The families that live in the two blocks now benefit from its attractive new appearance and additional peace of mind that the structure is protected from the onset of any further degradation for years to come.

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