Chapel Estate

Zinsser, the UK’s leading specialist paints and primers company, have been working with East Durham Homes, the ALMO for District of Easington Council, to find a solution for a problem on dwellings on the Chapel Hill estate in Peterlee which have significant deterioration to the existing external masonry paint. As part of a rolling initiative to bring the homes up to the Decent Homes Standard, it was also decided to address this problem which was blighting the visual appearance of the estate – with the existing state of the brickwork being a major factor.

The best Zinsser products for the job

• With all these variables to be taken into consideration, Zinsser recommend the application of two of its products; Bulls-Eye® 1-2-3, used both to bind back the extremely friable substrate and as an adhesion promoter on these difficult bricks, and AllCoat Exterior as a top coat.
• Zinsser Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 primer is a fast-drying white-pigmented acrylic latex undercoat, formulated for use on all types of exterior and interior surfaces either previously painted or new. The value of the paint is that it seals all porous surface. It has a breathable film to let interior moisture escape.
• AllCoat Exterior, which in this case was colour tinted, contains a mildewcide to inhibit the growth of mildew on the paint film and is guaranteed for 15 years. Being 100% acrylic water based, it is highly resistant to moisture and is crack and peel resistant, drying to a flexible, smooth finish.

The problem

• A site survey by Capital Programme Manager at East Durham Homes David Steel and Zinsser revealed that the original bricks were calcium silicate, well documented as difficult bricks to work with being both very porous and friable. Over the years, many localised areas exhibited the signs of unstable substrate, and the problem had been further exacerbated since several areas had been renewed during a previous revitalisation scheme using common fletton bricks. Another concern was the moisture content – several moisture readings were taken that ranged from 14% to 24%. Ideally, redecoration could only be possible if the moisture content was under 18%.
• To compound the problem even more, it was discovered that some previously painted areas had completely failed due to the friable substrate and the coastal location, which had severe exposure and also resulted in the growth of unsightly mildew.

The results

“The contract including the external redecoration of the houses took about three months to fully complete” explains Mr Steel. The properties were transformed both internally and externally, with the Zinsser paint helping to bring them up to the Decent Homes Standard in line with government recommendations for the UK housing stock.”

Get in touch

If you have a professional painting project you’d like us to help you with, simply visit www.zinsseruk.com/specification-service or call us on 0191 410 6611 and one of our Specification Managers will be in touch. The Zinsser specification service is offered free of charge, with members of the experienced Zinsser team available to work with professionals across the industry at every stage of their projects, from initial survey through to specification and application of coatings, providing on-site advice, training and technical assistance.