British Gypsum’s Thistle plaster has been used in a newly built medical centre in Somerset. Significant renovation work was undertaken at Frome Medical Practice to create a stylish, multi-functional medical hub which includes two medical practices, a pharmacy, an optician, mental health services, extensive training facilities, a private clinician’s suite and a café.
The practice required a hard-wearing, robust plaster solution suitable for use in a busy environment where walls are subjected to impact from patients or medical equipment. British Gypsum’s Thistle Hardwall was specified by international support services and construction group, Interserve, for use on the block work in the ground floor disabled toilets and communal areas to satisfy this requirement.
An ideal solution for most masonry backgrounds, Thistle Hardwall is also quick drying, which allowed plaster contractors, GHT Plastering Services, to get the job completed within tight timescales. To smooth out uneven areas of the block work, an additional coat of Thistle Hardwall was used to dub out the masonry. Richard Jones, Managing Director of GHT Plastering Services said: “Thistle Hardwall made the job so easy. Usually, to counteract uneven surfaces we would need to use multiple products, but with Thistle Hardwall it is simply a matter of applying another coat. This was a great help, as it allowed us to get the work done without spending extra time or budget on unnecessary products and additional drying times between coats.”
A final 2mm plaster coat of Thistle Multi-Finish was used to provide a smooth finish, and will also help to extend redecoration maintenance cycles, reducing the need for unnecessary maintenance work and further disruption to services.
Richard Jones continued: “Both products were as always a joy to work with as they are so versatile. The system was ideal in straightforward areas of the practice such as the consultation rooms, but they were also great in the communal spaces which had a more design orientated focus. In these areas we needed to create a sense of space and light, and the smooth finish achieved with this system created a perfect canvas for interior design. The client is really pleased with the result and the building looks very impressive.”
Dr Tina Merry, Senior Partner at Frome Medical Practice, added: “It was a huge project to undertake, we had to ensure that the product we chose was aesthetically pleasing and practical for heavy footfall areas. The communal areas look so bright and airy, and the building has become a place people enjoy visiting. Thistle Hardwall was an ideal solution for extending maintenance cycles, and I have no doubt that the building will look as good as new for a very long time.”
For more information on the Thistle plaster range, please visit www.british-gypsum.com/products
