saving face

When this old, unused warehouse underwent renovation, the developers were looking for a solution that would restore the original character of the 1970s building, and give it street appeal.

Rather than plaster or paint, Nawkaw Australia was called in to convert the dirty brickwork and the corroded mortar joints into an attractive face brick facade.

Nawkaw Australia owner Anthony Watling says this was achieved by permanently staining the masonry, which is quicker and more cost effective than painting, bricklaying or replacing bricks.

"Painting requires a lot of preparation, including having the walls chemically cleaned, primed and then painted. Re-colouring is done in a fraction of the time it takes to paint.

"It is also environmentally safer, as there is no acid involved, requires no demolition, and is guaranteed to last. It is less invasive on the street, as we use a scissor lift to move up the wall, rather than set up a construction site with scaffolding and ladders."

Project manager Ron Natoli says the owner's brief was to restore the building but retain the inherent character. The cost efficiency was a bonus.

"The results were already visibly apparent a day after Nawkaw started, especially as there was no major scaffolding covering the work."

He says the long-term durability of the re-coloured masonry was another factor for the choice, as painting requires ongoing future maintenance.

The warehouse had endured a number of alterations over the years, resulting in mismatched exteriors. Nawkaw matched the colours to look authentic, without changing the streetscape, says Natoli.

Watling says the company uses its own proprietary permanent masonry stains, which leave a noticeable colour change without changing the texture and natural look and feel of the masonry. Future additions with a different brick finish can be colour-matched.

Brick, brickwork, mortar, concrete masonry, block and pre-cast concrete can all be treated with the system, as can new buildings that want future protection from weathering.

For those buildings that have been painted but need to be restored to their original character, Nawkaw can remove paint and mortar before treating the exterior.

For more information, contact Nawkaw, phone 1300 Nawkaw (629 529), fax (02) 9769 0644. Email: info@nawkaw.com.au. Website: www.nawkaw.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas