It seems like only a short time ago, that we were in the ancient city of Chester to inspect Lime Render and timber work on an historic facade. We met with the client surveyor to discuss the works in a vibrant old town centre, when a familiar face appeared. It was another building surveyor who was aware of the service we can provide, who advised “I’ve just come from a library in Greater Manchester, that’s about finished; the main contractors site manager said he is in need of a company to solve a last minute plaster problem, can you help?” We took the contact number of the site manager, gave him a call and our surveyor was on site within a couple of hours to assist and review the work.
The main library area turned out to be a magnificent open space; synonymous with a traditional past; for the enjoyment of literature and learning, which also dovetailed quite nicely with the technology of today; the computing and on line experience. This is where Whitechapel Art Plaster Co Ltd like to be; traditional techniques working hand in hand with innovation.
Within twenty minutes we learned that a collision had caused damage to a projecting run plaster cornice on scotch brackets; the disruption to the cornice was just below a wall relief of one of Britain’s most well known writers and injecting a little humour into the meeting; the site manager said we were lucky not to lose Charles Dickens nose.
We put the matching and repair price in next day, which the main contractor accepted immediately and we then returned soon after to make a template; enabling us to form an appropriate running mould to create a seamless match for the required remediation.
Having a busy order book, it became necessary to do a little weekend work, which the crafts people in the shop were happy to do. We returned to site to sheet up, erect access equipment, and complete the reinstatement the following Saturday morning.
In short; this was an example of efficiency; a team of people cooperating to deliver a finish that will hopefully be of benefit to other people visiting the library, and not only gain from the content there in, but also be up lifted by an aesthetically pleasing interior of a traditional building which is a place and space of contemporary potentiality.