Welsh weather no match for Durox System
Despite encountering terrible weather conditions, house builder Chris Charles Ltd. has completed the construction of 12, two and three bedroom town houses in Burry Port, Wales in just four and a half months, thanks to the use of the Durox System from Tarmac Topblock.
Constructed for clients Holloway Developments, the town houses were built using the Durox System blockwork with thin joint technology. The construction of the properties utilised a modular approach to building, with construction of the final property shell being completed in February 2006, just four and a half months after the project started in October 2005 and a clear month ahead of the April 2006 deadline.
The speed of the build was attributed to the use of the Durox System, as project manager for Chris Charles Ltd., Layton Davies explained: "Speed of construction was particularly important in the Burry Port project as the demand for quality housing in the area is extremely high. In such cases there is a choice of construction options available and a perceived impression that traditional block and brickwork construction is slower than other methods of house building. This is simply not the case. Having used the Durox System in a variety of different construction projects over the last two and a half years Chris Charles Ltd. can construct an average 3,000 sqft property from a standing start using the Durox System in just two weeks.
From a programme management perspective, by using the Durox System, we are able to reduce the overall build time of a new property by up to 35%. In the case of the Burry Port project, working under terrible weather conditions, we were able to place specific times and dates on the completion of individual walls and properties, allowing other contractors to plan their activity and benefit from knowing when deadlines would be met. A team of four skilled brick and block layers were responsible for construction work on-site with scheduling and management undertaken by myself."
The properties were constructed using 125mm width Durox blocks, supplied in coursing heights of 215mm and 299mm. Partial cavity insulation was built into the Durox external walls using special system helical ties from Clan, which ensured the 50mm cavity wall insulation boards were properly retained against the surface of the blockwork.
Commenting on the project, Holloway Developments manager, Rob Davies said: "We awarded the construction project to Chris Charles Ltd. after seeing a separate job they had worked on using the Durox System with thin joint technology. Talking to the previous customer helped us to understand the deliverable benefits the Durox System could make to the project. It also opened our eyes to what is a relatively new technique. The key benefit of taking this option was the knowledge that our tight timescales could be met and in our case exceeded. It was also important that we knew we could rely on the traditional method of construction with the Durox System delivering high thermal efficiency. Knowing that Layton and his team are experienced in this form of construction was also reassuring. Finally from a financial perspective, by comparing the use of Durox System against other methods, we were able to prove that it was the most cost-effective option available. The additional benefit of choosing the Durox System was the fact that work on the project could start immediately."
Expanding on the use of the Durox System by Chris Charles Ltd, Tarmac Topblock territory manager, Gary Davies, said, "I have worked with Layton and his team on a wide variety of Durox System projects over the last couple of years, ranging from one-off new builds to extensions and larger projects. In a large number of projects, Layton and his team have been able to speed up the overall build process using the Durox System to produce a weather tight envelope, enabling internal works to be started while the building and blockwork continues.
It is great to see the results that Layton has achieved with the Durox System. The knock-on effect has travelled throughout the area, with word of mouth now pulling in an increasing number of jobs. So much so, that Layton has trained five new Bricklayers in the last five months to become skilled Durox System block layers, with each trainee learning the ropes in a matter of days. For Layton, business is booming, as a direct result of the partnership approach we have taken to working with him and his team, which is great news for everyone at Tarmac Topblock, that continue to help him achieve great results."
