System or battery garages came about as a solution to the lack of garages available following the re-building of residential properties after the Second World War. Building materials were in very short supply so pre-molded concrete panels were developed to create the rapid construction of blocks of garages that were secure and substantial.
There were many brands that entered the market place in the late forties, fifties and sixties. Today only two of the original brands remain. Leofric, which had its roots in Banbury Buildings, and Marley. And the Marley brand (buildings division only) was bought by Leofric from Marley in the late 1980’s.
In addition to holding all the concrete moulds relating to the Leofric, Banbury and Marley Models, Leofric set about re-creating the concrete sections for some of the long-time defunct brands of sixty years ago. Thus we can re-furbish virtually all blocks of concrete garages without the need to demolish them. In most cases the “shells” can be retained with the emphasis being on doors, lintels, posts (with built-in drainage downpipes) and roofs, often needing new purlins to replace cracked concrete originals. Today we use modern, low or zero mainentance materials (powder-coated aluminium extrusions, uPVC rainwater goods, plastersol steel roof sheets and flashings – see under “Our New Model”) in our re-furbishment programme.
With time many of these garages (all brands) have deteriorated to such an extent that the concrete is cracking and falling off. To keep them safe (see the legal section of this website headed “Your Liabilities”) the posts and lintels need to be checked for cracked concrete, rebar showing (strength gone or reduced), and missing sections. If any of these problems exist then a refurbishment is recommended.
So what does this amount to? Well often the rear and partition walls are re-useable. Of course the asbestos roofing, if still present, has to be replaced usually with plastersol steel, new doors supplied and fitted, then new front lintels and downpipe posts fabricated in purpose-designed powder-coated aluminium. These metal posts support the front of the garage, carry the built-in side guides for the roller shutter door and are maintenance-free.
Changing the up and over door type to the roller shutter format brings many benefits. The most common damage to battery garages is collison with doors. Once bent, up and over doors are virtually impossible to repair and today cost in the region of £650.00 plus fitting. Damage to a roller shutter door on the other hand merely requires sliding out the damaged slats and sliding in new ones at about £10 each at today’s prices. Additional benefits include the absence of any mechanism within the garage. No springs channels or levers. Everything is concealed in the roll of slats and the effort required to open and close the door is less and more easily carried out by the older generation.
Such a refurbishment would seldom cost more than £2,000.- per unit plus asbestos removal costs where required.
Call us on 0800 316 6390 for further details.
