Cold Weather Threatens Delays During Keyes Lodge Construction

Project Overview

Since 2000, family-run Churchill Retirement Living has focused exclusively on the development of purpose built retirement developments. One of their newest developments is Keyes Lodge in Dartford.

Designed specifically for the over 60s, the 68 one and two-bedroomed apartments at Keyes Lodge include features such as a video-entry system, a lift to all floors, a 24-hour care and support system, and a resident Lodge Manager. In addition, communal facilities include an Owners’ Lounge, Guest Suite and landscaped gardens.

In the words of the local MP, Gareth Johnson, who visited the site during its construction, “Retirement properties are a crucial part of helping to unblock the UK’s housing crisis and Churchill’s new development is a significant addition to the housing provision in Dartford. Specialist retirement housing is proven to have a very real, beneficial effect on older people’s health and wellbeing. I am sure these properties will prove to be very popular."

Challenge

During construction, cold and wet weather threatened to extend the drying time of recently completed plastering.

Solution

Gas heaters release moisture while heating so would not have helped solve the problem. The mobile indirect oil fired heater supplied by RVT provided a warm, dry heat, making it eminently suitable to dry out the plaster.

The 150Kw, 110V heater was sited externally with flexible ducting taking the heat into the building. Using several lengths of ducting to target different spaces simultaneously enabled rapid drying of multiple spaces. By forcing a flow of clean dry heat into the site, and through the positive pressure created by this method, the heat was evenly distributed throughout the building and thereby removed the moisture so successfully that no additional dehumidifying equipment was required.

"I would just like say thank you for supplying us with your very efficient heating system. It worked wonders on our site and allowed us to continue internal works without any delays in cold weather conditions. Your customer care service was also very good and I would have no hesitation in using RVT again." - Andy Hall, Site Manager, Churchill Retirement Living