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The bulk of the repairs of the Nautilus apartment block in Orewa are on target to be completed in July, but with roof repairs still to begin, contractors could be on site until the end of this year.
Prendos NZ is project managing the work and contractors began repairing the 12-storey leaky structure in November 2016 after the High Court ordered Auckland Council to pay around $25 million for repairs.
The remediation work includes completely re-cladding the structure and repairs to the roof and podium. It excludes the large curved windows at the east end, but work is currently underway on the large curved balconies and handrails above and beside these windows.
Current work includes the noisy process of breaking up the existing concrete on private patios on the podium level so that it can be screeded and re-tiled.
The new cladding system is made of fire-resistant laminated aluminium panels and vertical rails.
Prendos director Philip O’Sullivan says this state-of-the-art system is an open-joint (no sealant) pressure equalised rain-screen with a rear-drained and ventilated cavity.
“It is low maintenance, with access if necessary from a building maintenance unit rail system,” he says.
He says that the building’s shape created a number of unique angles, junctions and challenges for the builders and the cladding installers to overcome along the way and is grateful for the public’s patience.
“Many thanks to the patient people of Orewa, especially the staff at Orewa Library, the stoic Nautilus occupants and a great site team who just get on and make it happen,” he says.
Mr O’Sullivan says although the work on the body of the building should be completed in July, there is more to come. A separate contract is soon to be let for the roof remediation work. The timeframe for the roof repair is not known as yet, but Mr O’Sullivan estimates it could take around six months.
