The White House, Grayswood

Structural Renovations Limited have recently completed the first phase of concrete repair and specialist coatings to a large residential property in Surrey, known as The White House.

The house, designed by the eminent architect, Amyas Connell in 1930 was completed in 1932, in the Modern Movement style and was Grade II* listed in 1971.

Built using reinforced concrete, with flat roof it was last renovated externally in the 1990s and was showing extensive signs of deterioration to both the concrete and the coatings.

Following an initial diagnostic survey it was possible to establish the type and extent of works required to reinstate the structural integrity of the structure, where required and propose a suitable scheme for the subsequent overall protection of the building, whilst satisfying the requirements, of all interested parties, including English Heritage.

We assisted in the production of an approved specification, using Flexcrete technologies repair and coating products and mobilised on site in early September.

All externally listed elements of the house were pressured washed and hand scraped to remove loosely adhered coatings, followed by a full hammer test to identify all areas of hollow/spalling concrete. Where required concrete was broken out, square-cut and all exposed reinforcement prepared and treated, prior to reinstated with a polymer-modified repair mortar. The entire prepared surfaces then received an application of an elastomeric levelling compound prior to two coats of white flexible anti-carbonation paint. All specified products were water-based.

The project was carried out from fixed scaffold and all works were completed whilst the client was in residence.

We will return for a second phase of works in 2021, when all listed elements of the property unconnected with the house itself will be treated using the same specification.