Case Study:Creative Cost-Saving Access Solutions for External Repairs in South East London

Read how we used a hybrid access strategy to deliver a schedule of repairs at this apartment building in Blackheath, London. With a narrow undercroft, flaking gable walls and ongoing resident access needs, the building required a flexible, multi-access approach that ensured quality and safety without sacrificing speed or cost-efficiency.

Access

From the outset, access is one of the first things we consider for major works projects. The residential building spans four storeys with a mixture of white brick and copper cladding, and features an undercroft car park that residents used throughout the works. To address these varying access conditions, Spectrum developed a hybrid access plan that maximised reach while minimising disruption.

We combined:

• Low-level façade and walkway works
  
  

• A narrow cherry picker to safely reach the ceilings of the undercroft drive-through without blocking traffic
  
  

This tailored approach allowed our team to operate efficiently across all elevations while protecting resident access and preserving delicate surfaces. While rope access was not required for this project, the decision to avoid scaffolding entirely delivered faster turnaround times and reduced cost for the client.

The Site

This property is a modern four-storey residential block located in South East London. The building features a gable wall of approximately 465m², white bricks up to the third floor, and distinctive copper cladding around the balconies and upper floor. Spectrum was appointed under Section 20 works, working in partnership with a Surveying and Block Management company whom we have collaborated with many times before.

The Challenge

The client required a comprehensive programme of maintenance and restoration works to address external wear and visual deterioration. Key concerns included:

• Flaking paint and render failure on the gable wall due to missing damp proof course (DPC) beneath coping stones
  
  

• Damaged paving slabs in need of repointing
  
  

• Timber bin stores and balconies showing signs of weather damage
  
  

• Previous cleaning attempts had left uneven surface finishes
  
  

• An undercroft car park requiring careful ceiling redecoration
  
  

The client also needed complete car park resurfacing works. Although this is outside Spectrum’s typical scope, they trusted us enough to subcontract and manage these works on their behalf, allowing for smoother scheduling and unified project delivery.

Our Solution

Our programme of works included:

• Comprehensive DOFF cleaning of the facade, paving and boundary walls – despite not being specified, our team opted for DOFF over pressure washing due to its superior ability to remove organic staining without damaging surfaces. (Image below shows the DOFF clean vs the client’s previous jet wash vs the untreated surface.)
  
  

• Paving tile repairs and regrouting across front and rear communal walkways
  
  

• Timber repairs and varnishing of bin store doors, ground floor balconies and gates using a high-quality professional-grade timber varnish
  
  

• Coping stone repairs and full redecoration of the boundary walls, where water ingress had compromised the finish
  
  

• Ceiling decoration in the undercroft driveway using a narrow cherry picker to avoid obstructing residents' access
  
  

• Refurbishment of external communal walls between building blocks to restore visual consistency
  
  

All materials used were breathable and appropriate to the substrate type, helping to extend the life of the finishes applied.

The Result

Over the course of eight weeks, Spectrum delivered a smooth, disruption-free programme of external improvements, transforming tired communal areas and futureproofing the building fabric. Thanks to our hybrid access approach and the ground-level works required, we avoided the cost and complexity of full scaffolding and were able to adapt quickly to the building’s unique shape and usage patterns.

Our longstanding relationship with the client made collaboration seamless, allowing us to manage subcontractors, advise on access routes, and ensure safety and convenience for residents from start to finish.