Client: Furness Education Trust
Location: Barrow-in-Furness
Sector: Education
Services: Project Management / School Building Consultancy
Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors were appointed by Furness Education Trust to specify, procure and project manage a programme to the structural concrete frame and external envelope repairs at Walney School, Barrow-in-Furness.
The scheme was developed following condition assessments which identified deterioration to reinforced concrete columns and defects within the two-storey teaching building’s external structure/fabric, including concrete spalling, corroding embedded steel, ineffective wall ties, and localised weather ingress.
All works were delivered over a six-week programme during the school’s summer holiday period, requiring careful planning, sequencing and contractor coordination to ensure completion within a fixed timeframe.
Schedule of works
A principal element of the project involved the repair of approximately 400 linear metres of concrete-encased beams affected by reinforcement corrosion.
Works were undertaken in accordance with a specialist repair specification, including:
- Localised breakout of defective concrete to expose corroded reinforcement
- Mechanical cleaning and treatment of steel reinforcement
- Application of Sika corrosion protection systems
- Reinstatement using compatible polymer-modified repair mortars
- Application of protective coatings to improve durability and resistance to future ingress
This approach ensured that repairs addressed both the symptoms and underlying causes of deterioration, in line with best practice for reinforced concrete repair.
Associated repointing works were undertaken to adjacent masonry, using appropriate materials to match the existing substrate and maintain breathability while improving resistance to water penetration.
Further localised repairs were completed to concrete cills and lintels, including crack repairs, edge reinstatement, and protective treatments to extend service life of the building.
As part of the wider external envelope strategy, over 60 windows were resealed. Failed sealants were removed and replaced, improving airtightness and preventing water ingress at critical junctions.
These works formed an important component of the overall strategy to enhance the teaching building’s environmental performance and reduce ongoing maintenance requirements.
Our role
Lea Hough acted as Designer and Project Manager throughout, overseeing specification development, tendering, contractor appointment, and site delivery.
Given the constrained programme, works were carefully phased and coordinated, with close monitoring of progress and quality to ensure compliance with the specification. Collaboration with specialist contractors and material suppliers was key to achieving a successful outcome within the limited timeframe.
Outcome
The completed scheme has addressed identified structural defects and significantly improved the condition and performance of the building envelope.
