Readymix Plasters developed by Knauf Drywall  delivered the finest wall finishes possible, ready for decoration, for the fast-track construction programme to develop two major new London hotels.

The 182-bedroom, four-star Novotel London Blackfriars and the 297-bedroom, 
budget Ibis London Blackfriars, are sited next to each other on Blackfriars Road and were constructed by main contractor McAleer & Rushe. Approximately 90 tons of Knauf Airless, Deco and Deco Plus finished the two hotels’ walls, including bedrooms, business suites, all corridors, staircases and common areas.

“The big advantage with these products is the speed at which you can apply them – three or four times faster than manual application,” said Jason Smith, director of the specialist subcontractor P3 Projection Coatings appointed by McAleer & Rushe.

He pointed out that faster application also leads to better quality because it means the job requires fewer operatives on site and so it is far simpler to achieve a consistent finish throughout the project.

The Novotel was finished with Knauf Airless, which provides a smooth finish and is applied using an airless high pressure piston pump machine, while the Ibis has a textured finish and has been plastered using Knauf Deco and Knauf Deco Plus, which are applied with rotary screw worm pump machines.

Knauf Drywall’s range of Readymix Plasters enable up to 1,000m2 per week to be applied and can be finished by a three-man gang. Surfaces can be emulsioned within 24 to 48 hours.

For more information visit 
www.knaufdrywall.co.uk