The Grand Hotel, Llandudno

Client

JDF Concrete

Duration

2 weeks

Location

Llandundo, Wales

Sector

Hospitality

The Grand Hotel, Llandudno, Wales

Orb Rope Access was appointed by contractors JDF Concrete to use rope access to remove any loose render, re-render, and paint areas of Llandudno’s Grand Hotel exterior that weren’t accessible using MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms).

The brief

Remove any loose render on the gable end of the hotel
Re-render where the loose render had been removed
Paint affected areas to match the existing colour.

The building

The Grand Hotel in Llandudno is a large, imposing Victorian building located in a prominent position of Llandudno’s seafront, at the foot of the Great Orme. Open to the often blustery elements of Llandudno Bay, the building is susceptible to weather damage, so requires ongoing maintenance to maintain its waterproofing and aesthetics.

The work

In the absence of any structural steelwork on which to attach our fixed rope access systems, reaching the areas of the building we needed to work on was difficult. To overcome this challenge we used deadweight trolleys which provide safe, portable suspension anchors for rope access technicians. To reach some areas we wrapped the large chimney stack.

The unique location of the hotel gave the team an impressive view of Llandudno and the bay reaching out to the Irish Sea. The gable end of the building was just to the side of the Llandudno pier, an iconic tourist attraction in Wales. We therefore drew the attention of many spectators!

Benefits to the client

Rope access was the only way to reach the works due to the structure of the building, the access challenges and the budget. We collaborated well with JDF Concrete who were working on other areas of the building that were accessible using MEWPs.

Benefit to the end client and users of the building

By re-rendering and painting in hard-to-reach areas of the hotel exterior, we were able to improve the aesthetics of the building for the end client and patrons. The building was also made safer for passers-by who might otherwise have been at risk of falling render.

"The Grand Hotel was a challenging project for two main reasons. The hotel was open for business, so we had to be very mindful of the visitors staying in the building on holiday while we worked. As with all coastal areas, we had very changeable weather from the morning to the afternoon and had to work our tasks around this uncontrollable element to ensure we finished the project to a high standard and on time. There were large areas of render and concrete that needed to be knocked off the building and then replaced, this involved working closely with the JDF team to keep the rope techs supplied with what they needed."

Matthew Lavery

Director, ORB Rope Access

What our clients say about us

Absolutely delighted with the outcome of the works, can't praise ORB highly enough for the all elements of the project, will certainly be using them again on any future projects.

The gutters on our building had not been cleaned for some years. In places they were choked with vegetation and this was causing water ingress into the building whenever we had heavy rain. Access, because of height was an issue. Orb Rope did a fantastic job and resolved the water ingress problem which had become a big concern. The technicians came when they said they would, carried out the work they said they would and left the area clean and tidy. The work was done promptly. We found the technicians knowledgeable and helpful. We would have no hesitation in recommending your company.

“Orb Rope Access have run several projects at Scarisbrick Hall. We have found them to be efficient, reliable and have completed their works on time and on budget. We would have no hesitation in recommending them. Well done Matt and team, keep up the good work.”

" I have worked with Matt and Orb since 2010, on many various tasks within the stadium and training ground, this includes floodlight painting and lamp changes, high level window cleaning, maintenance and repairs to various roofs to include tin, plastic and fiberglass roofs. The fitting of new high level signage and banners, and many other jobs. They helped to develop our rescue plan for our own engineers when working on the floodlights. They are always available when we have had storm damage, working well into the night to complete repairs. I would not hesitate to recommend them to any other company for any type of rope work/high level maintenance, and have done on several occasions. "

"Orb Rope Access have completed numerous projects at St Johns for the past 5 years; Including the reseal of the famous St Johns Beacon! I find them professional, reliable, and very financially competitive. They are a highly recommended contractor of mine and a joy to work with."

"Orb Rope Access were introduced to us as we required a high-level structural inspection solution. Given the nature of the project we needed a service partner who could provide excellent levels of safety coupled with knowledge and capability in delivering the standards we required. Orb didn’t fail to impress, there attention to detail and professionalism throughout the process was second to none."

"I have had the pleasure of working with Orb rope access on a few roofing projects now, and have to say that despite the difficult nature of the work that they do in terms of access they also have an ability to transfer that expertise and attention to detail to the work carried out on site. Top work from a top company!"

"Inleaf specialise in the design, installation and maintenance of living walls throughout the UK. Living walls, by their nature, often require specialist access for installation and maintenance and so we commonly work with Orb Rope Access to provide specialist advice and assistance with projects that require abseiling access. Orb Rope Access have always been friendly, straightforward and professional to deal with. We've found them to be 100% reliable and excellent at working closely with our team when on site, either following specific instructions or using their own initiative when required."

This is the second time we have used Orb for high-level work. We are very satisfied with the job done. The team arrived on site at exactly on time, kept me informed of progress and provided photographs of the completed work for my records. I would have no hesitation in using the company for future work.

Here at Liverpool Cathedral , as you can guess there is a challenge to gain access to problems at height. We have used the services of ORB for several years now and they provide us with a professional and safe service which is beyond our means.

Before ORB came to us for roof work it was very difficult to find anyone who would go on the roof. Scaffolding is very expensive. The men who come to carry out the work are polite and a pleasure to deal with and St Oswald's are so grateful for their expertise.

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Get In Touch

At Orb Rope Access we are very proud to be an IRATA Member Company and hold Safe Contractor status. If you are looking for a trusted partner to assist with projects that require working at height or confined space, please get in touch for a no-obligation quote or by calling 0781 333 9064.