A selection of Crown Paints’ high-performing Crown Trade range of coatings has been specified in the £10 million restoration of Liverpool’s historic Port of Liverpool Building. As part of the internal redecoration of the iconic Grade II*-listed property, building owner Downing selected a variety of Crown Trade finishes, due to their exceptional performance characteristics and the added-value support available through Crown Paints’ expert Colour Service.
As well as aiming to create first-class commercial office facilities, Downing sought to bring the Port of Liverpool Building back to its former glory by restoring the detailed internal architecture. To achieve these objectives, the project required a coating that would deliver long-lasting durability in a palette of colours that would enable them to match original paintwork. After completing a thorough evaluation of paints on the market, Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt was selected as the one that would provide the best possible finish.
Developed for areas of intensive use, Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt retains a “newly applied” appearance, even with repeated scrubbing. Achieving class one of ISO 11998 for scrub resistance, the formulation offers exceptional durability, dirt resistance and cleanability. These capabilities make Clean Extreme the ideal coating for a high-traffic period property such as the Port of Liverpool Building, as surfaces can be maintained with ease.
In addition to its durability, Clean Extreme is available in more than 1,200 shades, including an exclusive range of 120 colours from the Crown Trade Historic Colours collection. The coating dries to traditional flat matt finish, providing excellent coverage of minor substrate imperfections.
Sally O’Brien, joint chief executive of Downing, said: “An expertly created paint specification was critical for the refurbishment of the Port of Liverpool Building. Throughout the project Crown Paints provided excellent specification support to ensure we met our main aims of preserving and enhancing this iconic building.”
As well as utilising Crown Paints’ paint specification expertise, Downing worked with the company’s Colour Service to develop an authentic scheme, which met the requirements prescribed by English Heritage. Ms O’Brien said: “The team performed rigorous checks, including sending away existing paint samples to their laboratories for analysis. Using the resulting information they were able to formulate a palette of colours in Clean Extreme that complemented the original Edwardian architecture.
“The finished result is excellent. As well as creating a high-quality, modern working environment for our office tenants, the re-painting programme has enhanced the intricate architectural features of the building, and has retained its authenticity. The renovation has already been widely acclaimed throughout the city and the redecorated interior completes a building of which Liverpool can continue to be proud.”
Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt was selected for all walls within the Port of Liverpool Building, and Crown Trade Vinyl Matt and Acrylic Eggshell used for all ceiling areas. The main contractor for the project, George Downing Construction, employed Hills Decorative Services as the painting sub-contractor.