Work continues across Blocks A, B and C at the Liversage Trust Almshouses on London Road, Derby, with different sections of the Grade II listed buildings now at varying stages of the refurbishment programme.
Roof repairs remain an important part of the current works, alongside structural alterations, first fix work and internal plastering. All heritage stonework repairs and replacement included within the original schedule of works have been completed.
Block A
Work to the first half of Block A has progressed considerably, with all roof repairs and strengthening complete. Rotten timbers have been replaced where required and new roofing felt and laths have been installed, leaving this section of the building watertight.
Scaffolding has been erected around the chimneys, so the team can inspect the chimney stacks and establish the repairs required. Elsewhere, individual damaged bricks continue to be replaced by hand.
Internally, joinery associated with the thermal upgrade is complete as are damp-proofing works.
The new upstairs layouts are becoming clearer. Metal studwork forming the bedrooms and bathrooms is in place and first fix plumbing and electrical work is on-going. First fix installation of the MVHR system will follow, providing controlled ventilation throughout the building.
Work is also progressing in the second half of Block A. All structural knock-throughs have been completed, and the new steelwork is in place. Existing render is currently being removed from the walls in preparation for the next phase of damp-proofing.
Block B
Roof works are progressing on Block B, where the existing roof tiles have been carefully removed and stored ready for reuse. Replacement roofing felt and lath work is underway.
Inside, structural alterations continue as two existing homes are knocked through to form one.
Block C
Block C is the most advanced section of the project. The first kitchen is being installed in the home created from the former Trust office. Second fix joinery is underway and the mist coat of paint has been applied on all new plaster. The three homes within this block are scheduled for completion before Christmas 2026.
Traditional Lime Plastering
Elsewhere within the almshouses, specialist lime plastering forms an important part of the internal works.
Walls that are not included within the thermal upgrade have to be replastered using traditional lime plaster. Where walls have been thermally upgraded, gypsum plaster can be used.
Made from lime, sand and water, lime plaster is permeable, allowing moisture to pass through the material. This is particularly important in historic buildings with traditional solid wall construction.
The plaster is applied in several coats, with additional time required between stages, and needs to cure slowly under controlled conditions. This specialist work is being carried out by LDC Heritage Restoration.
Preparing the Interiors
One of the more time-consuming jobs continues to be the removal of old wallpaper. The amount varies considerably between homes: some have a single layer, while others have as many as five.
With so much wallpaper to remove across the buildings, one member of the team is now working on stripping it full time, preparing the walls for the next stages of repair and refurbishment.
With Block C moving towards completion and work progressing through Blocks A and B, the project continues to move through the different stages required to repair, upgrade and reconfigure the historic almshouses into 17 homes.
