Projects

In modern shopping centres, ceramic tiles are a popular choice for floor finishes. They are durable, hard-wearing and have a high-quality appearance that suits both retail spaces and central walking routes. However, these same properties also entail a risk: as soon as the floor gets wet, for example due to rain, snow or wet shoe soles, a beautifully tiled floor quickly turns into a slippery and potentially dangerous surface.

Over the years, aluminium window frames and flashings are inevitably affected by external influences. Think of sunlight (UV radiation), precipitation, air pollution, temperature fluctuations, but also dirt accumulation and oxidation. As a result, the aluminium gradually loses its original shine and colour, and a dull, weathered appearance is created. This not only affects the aesthetic appearance of the building, but also the resistance of the material itself.

In the hospitality sector, the condition of the bathroom often determines the first impression and the overall feeling of comfort of the guest. For modern hotel chains such as CitizenM, which are known for their minimalist luxury and high-quality finish, a high-quality appearance of every room is crucial. The bathroom in particular plays a key role in this: hygienic, modern and user-friendly, down to the last detail.

At a location like Schiphol Airport, one of the busiest airports in Europe, the sanitary facilities are used intensively every day by travellers from all over the world. This requires a hygiene approach that goes beyond regular cleaning: an approach that prevents odours and contamination instead of combating them again and again.

Hypalon – a synthetic rubber (CSM) best known for its excellent weather, UV and chemical resistance – is widely used in the marine industry. The material is robust and has a long lifespan, but like any other outdoor material it is affected by external factors over time. In particular, exposure to sun, salt water, air pollution, temperature fluctuations and stagnant dirt can lead to surface aging, discoloration, dullness and even material degradation.

In industrial and logistic environments, the floor forms the basis of every working day. The concrete subfloor in warehouses often has to deal with intensive loads from forklifts, pallet trucks, racks, machines and foot traffic. A bare concrete floor is porous, rough, dust-sensitive and vulnerable to mechanical and chemical loads. This leads to wear, dust development, an unsafe working environment and an unfinished appearance.

The facade cladding of the Topsporthal in Almere, a prominent sports facility used daily by hundreds of athletes, visitors and employees, had been seriously affected by corrosion over the years. The metal facade panels showed clear signs of rust formation, discolouration and peeling paint. This damage was mainly caused by long-term exposure to weather influences, air pollution, condensation and temperature fluctuations, common factors for metal facades without recent protective treatment.

At the Schoolmeesterpad in Leiden, Vastgoedonderhoud Leiden successfully carried out a facade renovation in which the outdated Trespa facade elements were treated with a durable protective layer. The work is part of a broader maintenance approach aimed at sustainable preservation, aesthetic restoration and limitation of future maintenance.

Newly painted or sprayed facade elements, such as window frames, doors, facade panels or flashings, regularly show unwanted visual problems, even before the paint layer has fully hardened. One of the most common and disturbing phenomena is the development of dark leak stripes, often within a few days of painting. These stripes are the result of a combination of atmospheric pollution, rainfall and insufficiently hardened paint.

In recent years, various stadiums have been working on the visual and technical restoration of large numbers of stadium seats. Due to prolonged exposure to the elements, intensive use and ageing of the material, these seats often lose their original colour and shine. The sun causes UV fading, rain and moisture leave dirt and residue, and daily use leads to superficial wear and discolouration. This not only affects the appearance of the stadium, but also shortens the lifespan of the seats.

The building at Le Pooleweg 6–11 was struggling with a common problem in urban and industrial environments: the weathering and discolouration of the aluminium window frames due to long-term exposure to atmospheric pollution. Factors such as exhaust fumes, particulate matter, acid rain, UV radiation and fluctuations in temperature and humidity all contribute to the deterioration of the top layer of powder-coated surfaces. As a result, window frames lose their original colour and gloss, discolouration and dull spots occur and the surface becomes more susceptible to dirt adhesion and further deterioration.

The Kaboutergarage in Almere is strategically located right next to the railway. Although this location is functional for logistics and accessibility, it also brings specific environmental challenges. One of the biggest problems is the constant exposure to rail dust – microscopic fine metal dust that is released by the braking and driving of trains. This dust spreads through the air and settles on buildings in the immediate vicinity, including the facade of the Kaboutergarage.