Decorating Specialists

PROJECT

Epsom College was established in 1855 to educate the sons of doctors. These days it is a fully co-educational boarding and day school with over 700 pupils. Situated on an 84 acre estate the school has grown around the original Victorian buildings. Over time these buildings have been updated and developed to meet changing needs. Galower Builders had worked successfully with the College in the past and were appointed main contractor on the £1m project.

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BRIEF

A major upgrade of facilities in Propert and Carr houses, within the listed main school building. Designed to deliver an upgrade in experience rather than just a refurbishment the houses were internally remodelled and rewired, with all new joinery and heating, creating new study rooms, common rooms and showers. The premises then had to be re-carpeted and decorated throughout. The problem was the scope of works, which needed to be completed during the school summer holidays - a period of only 7 weeks.

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SOLUTION

Galower handled all aspects of the building work and asked H&S to take responsibility for the decorating, which called for detailed planning in the period between being asked to tender and the start of works. To help complete the job on schedule H&S used Knauf spray plaster on both new and existing surfaces, as this ready mixed system offered benefits in terms of both time and control over the finished decorations. Overall the project necessitated a programme of double shift working 7 days a week throughout the 7 weeks available to complete the works.

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OUTCOME

The project was completed on time and on budget, enabling the school to complete re-furnishing over the final weekend before the start of the new term.

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“The boys and I are absolutely delighted and everyone that has come to look around is very impressed. The spaces are working well and there is more work going on than ever before. We have even discovered a new phenomenon 'the house proud boy' and they are almost competing to have the tidiest study.”

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Mr. L. Matthews   Housemaster, Carr House