Crown Trade and Sandtex Trade products have been specified for the refurbishment of Parkers Mill in Mildenhall, Suffolk. A selection of coatings from the Crown Trade and Sandtex Trade portfolios were selected for the internal and external redecoration of the former watermill, which has been converted into 14 contemporary apartments by housebuilder Freshwater Estates (UK).
Internally, Crown Trade Colorfects Heavy Duty Glaze was applied to the mill鈥檚 original brickwork to protect the surfaces from marking and everyday wear and tear. Crown Trade Timonox flame retardant paint systems, including Timonox Vinyl Matt and Timonox Acrylic Eggshell, were also used for communal ceilings and plastered walls within the mill, due to their ability to allow surfaces to comply with fire safety requirements.
Crown Trade Timonox has been shown to prevent flame spread across painted areas and delivers the class 0 rating (as defined in section B2 of approved document B of the UK Building Regulations) required for general access areas, such as the communal corridors and stairwells in Parkers Mill.
For the mill鈥檚 exposed wood and metal work, Freshwater Estates specified Sandtex Trade Flexigloss X-tra. Flexigloss X-tra provides a durable, high quality finish and protects exterior substrates from the elements, offering improved gloss retention, flexibility and reduced chalking.
Adrian Hammond, site manager at Parkers Mill, explained: 鈥淭he unique feature of Parkers Mill is its combination of the traditional and the contemporary. As such, we required a range of internal and external coatings, which would protect and enhance the building鈥檚 design, as well as deliver flame retardancy and excellent durability.鈥�
He added: 鈥淪andtex Trade鈥檚 Flexigloss X-tra was particularly suited to the specific requirements of this project, due to its ability to prolong the life of exterior substrates and deliver a high quality finish, which is resistant to cracking and flaking.鈥�
The renovation of the mill building is the first phase of the Parkers Mill development. The project will also incorporate a number of new build properties and the restoration the mill鈥檚 original water turbines. The renovated turbines will generate enough electricity to provide power to the apartments and communal areas, and make the mill entirely carbon neutral.