Matthew Street flats were originally built in the 1960’s as part of a wider housing boom at the time. The two ten-storey blocks of flats, owned and managed by the City and County of Swansea, have recently undergone a large scale refurbishment using Mapei construction products and have subsequently been upgraded to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS). As a result, residents will benefit from better quality, more energy efficient housing.
The project included removing asbestos, demolishing reduandant risers, replacing kitchens and bathrooms, electrical rewiring, as well as upgrading the insulation level to external walls. Beton Bauen carried out the specialist repairs on behalf of client Interserve Construction.
A number of Mapei products were specified including Mapei’s carbon fibre plate Carboplate E 170/100/ 1.4 which was bonded with Adesilex PG1 adhesive and used to reinforce 500-2000m2 of concrete elements damaged by physical and mechanical stresses within the block of flats. Mapei concrete repair mortars Mapegrout T40, Mapegrout T60 and Planitop Smooth and Repair were used in the refurbishment of existing deteriorated concrete.
The use of Planitop Smooth and Repair eliminated the need to break out concrete, significantly reducing the noise and dust pollution. This allowed all occupants to remain living inside the building whilst the refurbishment was taking place.
Image caption: Matthew Street flats in Swansea. Photo credit: robert Melen
