Oxford Street East
When a natural stone façade began failing on Oxford Street East, it posed a severe life-safety risk and massive commercial liability. Discover how Consurv’s microscopic diagnosis proved a fundamental construction defect, shifting the multimillion-pound repair costs entirely away from the client.
Project Overview
Consurv was appointed to investigate significant defects affecting the natural stone façade of a large retail property on Oxford Street, London, following cracking, debonding and stone failure.
Our Investigation
Consurv carried out an extensive investigation into the façade construction, including a series of site inspections and a detailed review of the original design, previous reports, testing and remedial proposals.
Our investigations raised concerns regarding the suitability of the lightweight Durox 500 blockwork supporting the Portland limestone, together with the application of the adhesive and adequacy of the mechanical restraint.
Consurv challenged the original façade design and subsequent remedial proposals against the relevant British Standards, raising concerns that the fixing arrangement, substrate and testing undertaken did not adequately demonstrate the safety of the stonework. We maintained that the problems related to the fundamental construction of the façade and could not be adequately addressed through localised repairs.
Consurv continued to pursue the issue, working alongside independent structural engineers and obtaining technical confirmation directly from the block manufacturer, which supported the concerns we had raised.
The Outcome
The further technical evidence ultimately supported Consurv’s position that the substrate was unsuitable for its intended use and that the proposed remedial works did not address the underlying problem.
Consurv’s continued involvement helped establish the extent and cause of the defects and provided the technical basis for the existing façade to be removed and replaced, rather than continuing with localised repairs.
Importantly, establishing the underlying construction defect also supported the position that responsibility for the remedial works remained with the Landlord, who subsequently covered the cost of the façade replacement. This resulted in a significant cost saving to the client, while ensuring that the cause of the façade failure was properly addressed.
Primark, Oxford Street East
