Private Development, Kent

Drummond Hall is a private residential apartment block situated within the grounds of a Grade II Listed park and gardens. It forms part of the private Swaylands Estate developed during 2005-2010, which includes two other residential apartment blocks: one new build, and one a conversion of the existing Listed buildings. Since construction was completed on Drummond Hall, the building has suffered condensation and water ingress problems through both the external walls and the flat roof. There had been several unsuccessful past attempts to the rectify the problems, including extensive works by NHBC.

We were first involved in this project acting as an expert witness during a dispute between the Administrator for the Developer, and the Residents. Following the conclusion of that dispute, we were appointed by the Directors as Architect, Lead Designer and Principal Designer for remedial works to Drummond Hall. The remedial works have included dismantling and rebuilding the entire outer leaf of brickwork and rendered blockwork. That involved removing the existing fully-filled cavity wall insulation, wall ties, cavity trays and DPCs, and replacing those with new partially filled cavity wall insulation, wall ties, and correctly located and installed cavity trays and DPCs. The level of the existing flat roof has also been raised by providing a new lead covered flat roof structure, to allow rainwater to discharge down onto the pitched slated roofs, rather than through the pitched roof construction, as previously. There have inevitably been extensive works to address numerous defects discovered during the reconstruction, including major structural errors in the original construction. The nature of the works necessitated the construction of a complete temporary over-roof.