Building Maintenance

Doors get perhaps the most wear and tear of any aspect of a building's interior. Constantly pushed by trolleys and people, they're subject to unsightly damage. They must also meet fire regulations so any work that's done to them has to maintain their integrity.

A quick solution to damage is door panels. These can be manufactured in many colours and finishes, and also bespoke sizes and shapes to fit any door. Some examples are seen in the pictures below.

These door panels have been fire tested so they mantain the fire integrity of doors and meet all regulations. This is a cost-effective way of refurbishment, as the existing doors can still be used.

Wall protection panels are best for damage that occurs on a large area, for example due to beds or trolleys rubbing against walls.

They are a relatively new invention, only coming into use when it was realised that buildings like schools and hospitals suffered a lot of wear and tear from the sheer number of people using them. Catering for the masses led to a need for strength in building design and the fabrics used to outfit such places.

Plastics are the perfect material for wall panels as they are so durable and can be moulded to any shape or size. This means that they can be mass produced quickly, or alternatively made to order without a lot of difficulty.

Plastics can be coloured in almost any way, so wall panels can enhance the decor of a building. Instead of a total refit, changing the wall panels can fix any damaged areas and update the colour scheme.This makes them a very cost-effective option for government-owned buildings.

They can be used in conjunction with crash rails to offer an extra level of protection.

Handrails can also provide wall protection as they prevent objects such as beds from coming into contact with the wall. Their main use is to help the elderly or frail to get around. They are commonly used in hospitals and nursing homes and can be colour-coded to act as visual aids.

Hand rails can be made from all sorts of materials. In the past the material of choice was wood, but with the increasing need for durable, hygenic materials in hospitals and nursing homes, more and more products of this type are produced from plastics.

Plastics have the advantage of being very easy to clean, with surfaces that repel moisture and do not rot. They can also be coloured in a wide variety of ways so that they can match the colour scheme of the building, or contain writing and images to help visitors around.

Although they are most useful for those who are frail, handrails are also useful on stairwells and steep slopes for the able-bodied. They can also act as a safety rail on the side of a staircase to prevent accidents.

Corner trim is especially important if there are trolleys or other wheeled furniture being used, for example in hospitals and nursing homes. They protect the corners of corridors and rooms from wear and tear, providing a buffer area.

They can also be installed on furniture itself, for example on reception desks that may be subject to damage.

Thanks to modern technology, corner trims can be made from plastic and moulded into various angles so that they fit a wide range of corners. They can also be coloured to match the existing decor.