Belzona Saves Rare Windmill

KHIA ID: 9174

Industry: Buildings & Structures (BSTR)
Application: RPA-Roof Problem Areas (RPA)
Substrate: Other

Customer Location: Derbyshire
Application Date: September 2023

Products: Belzona 3111 (Flexible Membrane), Belzona 3921 (GSC Surface Conditioner)

Problem: The cap of a rare windmill needed serious attention as the coating and protective material had degraded from the twin Larch skin. It was of paramount importance to rescue the windmill from any further trauma as it is the last stone bodied, 6 sail working windmill in the Country. The Cap and fan tail needed serious protection following repairs to the larch substrate as part of a refurbishment to this iconic working windmill

Close up of the condition of the cap, prior to restoration works

Lifting the cap from the structure

Work about to commence

Back to it's former glory

Application Situation

The cap had to be removed from the structure and placed on the ground so it could be worked on. The Millwright who oversaw the project specifically asked Belzona for a solution, having had conversations with other Millwrights in the UK. He had also had some experience of Belzona on another project.
A contractor was engaged to carry out the application and work alongside some 30+ local volunteers. 8 of the volunteers attended Belzona In-House Training at Harrogate
The old coatings and protective materials were removed and any necessary repairs were made to the Larch Substrate.. Belzona 3921 (GSC Surface Conditioner) was used prior to the Belzona 3111 (Flexible Membrane), which was reinforced by a selection of Belzona 9311 (Reinforcement Sheet) and Belzona 9431 (Reinforcement Tape).
The cap was re-lifted back into position prior to the sails being re-bolted.
The Windmill now looks fantastic and is well protected against the elements, in the exposed hills of Southern Derbyshire

Application Method

Belzona 3921 (GSC Surface Conditioner) Applied to the Larch substrate
Belzona 3111 (Flexible Membrane) applied incorporating Belzona 9311 (Reinforcement Sheet) and some Belzona 9431 (Reinforcement Tape)

Belzona Facts

Whilst Belzona emphatically made the client aware that the chosen product had not been tested on timber, the Millwright was convinced, after looking at all other option, that this was the right way to go.
Using this product gave application skills to 8 of the Windmill's volunteer staff, many of them engineers from some of the UK's largest and most prestigious engineering companies

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