SIKA REPAIRS FOR BRENTFORD TOWERS

Brentford Towers in West London form an imposing cluster in an estate within the capital’s Hounslow district. Over time, the structure’s concrete façade had become cracked and spalled in areas, leading to Hounslow Council implementing a repairs programme. UK Gunite was selected to apply the Sika repair system on behalf of the project’s main contractor, Engie UK.

With work starting in 2017, initially involved applying Sika FerroGard-903+, a surface-applied mixed corrosion inhibitor designed for use as an impregnation of steel reinforced concrete. It is spray-applied and penetrates concrete to form a protective monomolecular layer on the surface of the reinforcing steel, thus delaying the corrosive process and the rate it progresses.

Surface cracks and spalling were repaired using Sikagard-545 W Elastofill. The product provides a crack-bridging intermediate coat, which closes pores, cavities and blowholes. It also offers excellent resistance to water ingress and damp. Class ‘O’ fire-rated Sikagard-550 W Elastic provided the concrete surface’s crack-bridging protective coating.

In total, the Brentford Towers refurbishment used Sika’s repair and corrosion protection solution across a surface area covering 25,000 sqm.

John Dorling at Engie, said:

“The spray-applied Sika FerroGard-903+ was not only the best solution in terms of the protection it offered, it was also the most time and cost-effective, as its penetrative properties negated the need to break-out large areas of concrete. The Sikagard-545 W Elastofill was also a revelation in terms of its crack-bridging ability and the light-grey finish it provided.”