TalkTalk, Milton Keynes

Full Project Breakdown

Tritec was appointed by TalkTalk to undertake a large-scale cladding refurbishment at their Milton Keynes site between January and November 2020. The project focused on extending the life of the existing ACM cladding system, addressing long-term weathering, water ingress issues, and restoring the building’s original appearance.

Cladding Preparation & Re-Coating

The ACM cladding, originally installed in the early 1980s, had suffered extensive UV degradation, dirt build-up, and coating failure after more than 30 years of exposure. Tritec carried out thorough high-pressure cleaning to remove surface contamination and loose coatings. Due to the system design, all capping sections and pressure plates were removed, with panels temporarily secured to allow safe access for refurbishment works.

Panels, doors, louvres, and GRP corner sections were mechanically prepared to create a suitable key for coatings, then cleaned and degreased. A two-part polyurethane coating system was applied via airless and HVLP spray methods, restoring the original green (RAL 6003) and white (RAL 9010) colour scheme. Upon completion, the coating manufacturer, Tikkurila, inspected the works and issued a 10-year product guarantee.

Gasket Replacement & Pressure Plate Works

Widespread gasket failure had allowed water ingress into building voids, with evidence of historic sealant-based repairs that had deteriorated over time. Tritec removed all existing gaskets and incorrect sealants before installing 16,000 linear metres of new extruded gaskets into the pressure plate system. Damaged or corroded pressure plates were replaced with newly extruded sections where required, ensuring full system integrity.

All pressure plates were refitted with careful attention to overlaps and junctions to eliminate potential water paths before the refurbished cappings were reinstated.

Capping Refurbishment

The aluminium capping sections showed signs of UV degradation, delamination, and corrosion. Each section was removed, labelled, and transported to Tritec’s mobile preparation and spraying facility. After surface preparation, the cappings were recoated using HVLP spray equipment and refitted in their original positions, completing the refurbishment.