Gazebo Apartments

Project overview

Project: Gazebo Apartments

Location: Elizabeth Bay, NSW

Building manager: Excel Building Management

Strata manager: Strata Choice

Engineer: Diagnostech

Contractor: Remedial Building Services

Project date: November 2020 – January 2022

Background

Gazebo Apartments is a multi-storey residential strata complex located in Elizabeth Bay NSW, consisting of two buildings with 159 lots and features a unique 18-storey cylindrical design. It opened in May 1969 and is now a heritage-listed building.

The Gazebo’s combination of curved columns and balconies, the decorative summit and the materials such as white marble aggregate finish and pre-cast panels gave the building its original aesthetic appeal.

In its heyday, the Gazebo saw its share of well-known local and international guests and was used as a setting for film and television productions. The Gazebo ceased operating as a hotel in the late 1990s and in 2005, its conversion to apartments was complete.

The challenge

The exterior of the Gazebo Apartments had not undergone a major refurbishment since 1969. Over the years, the building had suffered water ingress in the balcony tiled beds, allowing water to seep through to underside soffits. This caused bubbling and hydrostatic pressure and the concrete façade was showing signs of cracks and deterioration.

As a result, the building required a complete refurbishment. Careful consideration was given to the products selected for the project due to its Heritage listing and location. A high-performance, breathable system was required to repaint the soffits. The balcony tiles were not able to be removed and resurfaced with a waterproofing membrane.

The balcony balustrades, permanently embedded into the balcony walls and floors, were also unable to be removed due to the building’s heritage listing and unique design. The coastal location also required a high-performance membrane solution that was in keeping with the iconic façade.

The solution

The Dulux Construction Solutions team worked closely with the engineer, Diagnostech, to provide a complete system to preserve and restore the Gazebo Apartments’ unique façade. Diagnostech chose to work with Dulux due to its extensive portfolio of brands and products, combined with the team’s expertise and technical advice. Remedial building works were carried out prior to painting. It consisted of spalling works, re-rendering and patching of texture coatings to match existing coatings. Existing coatings were removed on balcony soffits and repairs were made on metal balcony balustrades.

Balcony soffits remediation

The solution for balcony soffits was to remove the existing coating and coated with a primer using Porter’s Paints Mineral Silicate and top coated with Porter’s Paints Mineral Paint. The Porter’s Paints system offered a totally breathable masonry coating to ensure a lasting finish, while providing a decorative rejuvenation of the substrate.

Balcony balustrades remediation

Due to the design of the balcony balustrades, the remediation works required the removal of the coating around the base of the balustrade to allow access to the steel foundations. These were coated with a Dulux Protective Coatings system. The steel balcony balustrades were spot primed with Durebild® STE followed with one coat of Durebild® STE and top coated with Dulux Weathermax® HBR. The powder-coated balcony balustrades were primed with Luxepoxy® 4 White Primer and top coated with Luxathane® R.

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Project outcomes

The restoration of Gazebo Apartments has returned the building’s unique façade to its original splendour, and the quality of products used will ensure the long-term protection of this iconic, heritage listed building.

Products specified

Porter's Paints

Balcony soffits

Dulux

Timber doors and frames

Dulux Protective Coatings

Balcony balustrade – steel

Balcony balustrade - Powder coated

Dulux Acratex®

Masonry facade and walls

Backing the experts

We leverage our deep expertise to support architects, interior designers, builders and engineers to design and build with confidence. More than 100 years of experience and an unrelenting focus on quality and innovation allow us to back the experts with premium products, industry-leading service and trusted advice.

Quality

Our products are formulated using advanced chemistry and science to deliver highly technical construction solutions that exceed expectations.

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