R1 R&R Sept '16 52 cc

Building Envelope
Ongo Homes decides on refurbishment
rather than replacement
Social Housing provider Ongo Homes Scunthorpe has engaged Mila Window and Door Maintenance to refurbish windows in
three high rise tower blocks in the town, and key supply chain partner Siegenia has provided the critical hardware solutions.
The three blocks were originally built in
the 1960’s and underwent a full window
replacement and external wall
insulation programme 20 years ago as a part
of refurbishment works during the 1990’s.
Head of Regeneration at Ongo, Neil Webster
explained their decision to undertake further
works on the site and why they went for
refurbishment of the windows rather than
another full window replacement scheme.
“We had become aware of the increasing
number of maintenance call outs to the blocks
with regards to windows in recent years and
had particular difficulty finding replacement
hardware parts. With the windows having
been installed for over 20 years many of the
parts had become obsolete as technical
advancements in the window industry
developed”.
“We were already planning to do work to the
lifts, heating system and communal areas on
the blocks so it was a good opportunity to
investigate the options for the windows at the
same time”.
“We were aware of a very similar scheme
which had been undertaken in pretty much
the same circumstances at Gentoo in
Sunderland and so we visited their site to see
what had been done and to see the positive
impacts on their blocks and on their residents”.
“The cost of replacing the windows for a
second time would have been prohibitive,
added to which was the potential damage to
the external insulation system, disturbance to
residents and the negative environmental
impact”.
“Our residents are always supportive of what
we try to do and understand that we try to
offer them the best solutions; after meeting
with Mila Window and Door Maintenance and
talking to our residents, and following a full
assessment of all the options available to us it
was clear that a ‘refurbishment scheme’ rather
than another replacement of the windows was
a viable and very attractive proposition”.
Tristan Cooke Managing Director of Mila
Window and Door Maintenance takes up the
story. “As Neil said, we spent a lot of time with
Ongo and their contractor considering all of
the options, and working out how we could
deliver them an answer to all of the issues
which needed to be addressed”.
“The biggest single issue for us to address, and
one of the key drivers Neil outlined earlier, was
identifying Tilt and Turn hardware which we
could fit the existing frames and sashes which
were originally installed. Over a period of
years, the hardware had been failing and in a
high rise living environment the risks are
significant”.
“This is where we were able to introduce one
of our key supply chain partners into the
equation. We have been working with
Siegenia for nearly 30 years and for Tilt and
Turn replacement hardware in high rise
applications they are able to provide the
perfect solutions”.
“A very rigorous assessment of the existing
frames and sashes alongside trials of our
proposed hardware options enabled us to
confirm to Ongo that we did indeed have an
entirely workable solution”.
John Chambers National Sales Manager for
Siegenia reinforced the same point. “Over 30
years the relationship between ourselves and
Mila Window and Door Maintenance has really
developed and we have not yet failed to find a
technically robust supply chain solution when
they have approached us to do so, and this
was no different”.
“As social landlords increasingly look to
refurbish and renew windows in situations
where external wall insulation has
subsequently been installed we know there
will be more and more of these situations
arising”.
“Hardware as we know should always be
maintained, even from new, but with the best
will in the world after 20 years it really should
be replaced in its entirety – earlier if possible.
Continuing to install the odd replacement part
is not sustainable in real terms as very quickly
a block can become a patchwork of different
hardware types”.
“It is great that Ongo had the foresight to take
the view they have and replace all the
hardware with a complete new set and that
they have engaged a specialist maintenance
contractor to do the job for them. This way
the new gearing is fully guaranteed as a new
installation thereby extending the life the
landlord’s assets”.
Neil Webster “Going down the refurbishment
route rather than replacing the windows is
clearly a fantastic outcome for Ongo and its
residents; the feedback about the completed
works and in respect of Mila Window and
Door Maintenance’s ability to carry out the job
has been excellent”.
For more information about Mila Window
and Door Maintenance’s ‘Refurbishment
and renewal’ of high rise windows package
www.milamaintenance.co.uk/ourservices/mila-refurb-renew/
for more
information on Siegenia Hardware
solutions www.siegenia.com
20 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Sep/Oct 2016 R1