North Essex Heritage Building

When YourClaim were called by a local commercial agent to investigate an impact damaged heritage building in Colchester, we were given instructions by the landlord not claim against their own building policy rather pursue the Dutch haulage company owning the vehicle that had caused the fabric damage to the external wall of an operational coffee shop.

The Challenge – The damage initially looked cosmetic, however due to the age of building, the traditional lime render material used and the characteristics of lime render did not allow for a cementitious or gypsum plaster repair. The lime render had failed and cracked in several parts. The Dutch haulier appointed a UK loss adjusting firm who were keen to ‘patch and fill’ the render. The building was positioned on the corner of a busy town centre road and the sole access to the town’s local Mercury Theatre

The Solution – We knew a patch repair was not a long term solution and commissioned an independent report from a heritage building and plastering company. We finally agreed to strip back the entire elevation where the truck had caused damage, re-rendering with the traditional lime render required and redecorated both external elevations of the building.  The undertook the repairs on Sundays closing the road off only during early hours of Sunday, utilising four separate weekends to  remove any impact of works to local shoppers and the town’s business community.

The Outcome – The claim and repairs were negotiated and delivered successfully although pursuing a third party directly can and often does take a bit longer, valuable feedback to this busy Central London property investment company.

A successful project, challenged and appropriately negotiated and managed, sensitively and traditionally repaired.