Johnstone’s has established its’ first official Partnership Agreement with Manchester Housing to deliver the internal and external refurbishment of around 130 homes at Crescent Road in Manchester.
The Specification Team at Johnstone’s gave technical assistance and provided a paint specification for the scheme. This proved to be such a success with residents and the client that Manchester Housing is now using the document as a city-wide specification.
In June 2005 work began on consulting tenants regarding the formation of Northwards Housing, an Arms Length Management Organisation, which would manage over 13,000 homes.
During the consultation period, six show homes were created to show tenants what improvements would be undertaken should they vote in favour of transferring to Northwards Housing. The six show homes were decorated throughout with Johnstone’s.
The specification team at Johnstone’s visited each of the show homes and developed colour schemes and specifications for each of the properties and adapted the specification according to the type of dwelling. The team produced colour schemes for the kitchen and bathroom areas along with a wallpaper book which was tailor made for the contract.
The option of using the Partnership Agreement with Johnstone’s came about as a result of the first contract which was carried out in Crescent Road by painting contractors Wilfred Lord based in Rochdale.
The first eight or nine houses at Crescent Road were painted with an Acrylic Gloss finish but then Johnstone’s launched their new AQUA Gloss and Manchester Housing agreed to do a trial on one of the houses with the AQUA product.
The residents were really pleased with the finish of the AQUA product so Johnstone’s agreed to change the specification in the initial stages of the project and the rest of the houses were then painted with AQUA Gloss.
The Partnership Agreement with Johnstone’s has allowed continuity in the schemes.
Gareth Jones, area sales representative for Johnstone’s, says the original specification for the properties at Crescent Road was carried out at the end of 2004 and the contract started in March 2005.
“This contract not only shows the benefits of a Partnering Agreement but also demonstrates the flexibility of all parties including Manchester Housing, the painting contractor Wilfred Lord, the main contractor Henry Boots Ltd and Johnstone’s – in being willing to trial and introduce new innovative products like the AQUA Gloss system during a contract.
“Wilfred Lord Painting Contractors Ltd did a superb job and worked with us and Manchester Housing to ensure everyone was pleased with the end result.”
The products used for the exterior of the properties included Johnstone’s Woodworks Exterior Universal Primer and Opaque Wood Finish, Johnstone’s Professional Undercoat and Gloss, Johnstone’s Stormshield Flexible Primer/Undercoat and Flexible Gloss, Johnstone’s Stormshield Pliolite Based Masonry Finish and Mangers Extra Strong Sterilisation Wash.
Products used for the interior of the products included Mangers Sugar Soap, Knotting Solution and All Purpose Filler, Johnstone’s Performance Coatings Water Based Metal Primer, Johnstone’s Alkali Resisting Primer, Johnstone’s Acrylic Eggshell and Covaplus Matt Emulsion, Johnstone’s AQUA Primer/Undercoat and Johnstone’s AQUA Gloss.