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Mapei Products Assist the Rescue at RNLI Grace Darling Museum
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A system of Mapei products has been used in the rebuild and refurbishment of the RNLI Grace Darling Museum in Bamburgh, Northumberland, which commemorates a young heroine; who at the age of 22 set out in treacherous seas with her father to rescue the survivors of the SS Forfarshire on 7 September 1838.
Tiling contractors W Rogerson & Sons installed 130m2 of high quality Burlington Elterwater Slate to the floor, to a complex design by David & Jane Darcy Architects, which featured curved walls, circular columns, inset floor lighting and a curved stair with inset nosings. Mapei’s Keraquick adhesive in Grey was specified for this installation not only for it’s suitability for this type of material but also for its fast setting and flexible properties. The joints of the slate were then grouted with Mapei Ultracolor Plus, fast-setting and drying, flexible cementitious grout in 113 Cement Grey to complement the slate, then movement joints were sealed with Mapei Mapesil AC silicone sealant in 113 Cement Grey, both products are available in 26 matching colours.
The refurbishment of the project proceeded after receiving financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other trusts and was subject to a high media profile campaign that was followed by local press and TV, therefore David & Jane Darcy Architects, main contractor D.P. Builders Ltd and tiling contractor W Rodgerson & Sons were determined to ensure that the floor finish was not only aesthetic but also of the highest possible quality. Burlington Elterwater slate with a flamed finish was laid in a varying width, random length stretcher bond throughout the ground floor area in order to visually unify several different areas in this small but complex project.
Since the museum opened to the public in December the floor has been much appreciated and commented upon by visitors.
RNLI Grace Darling Museum recently fought off fierce competition to be short-listed for the 2008 TTA Award ‘Best Use of Tile in a Small Construction Contract’.
