B&Q ‘PHOENIX PROJECT’ – ACTON & CHINGFORD BRANCHES

Alcema have completed two B&Q Store refurbishment projects over an eight week period.

The two projects lasted four weeks per location, with works completed both during opening hours and out of hours after store closure. The works were within a ‘busy trading store environment’ with staff and customer interaction at all times.

External Works
These included the installation of new signage to all elevations, the main store sign, entrance/exit lobby, trolley bays, customer notification, safety signage, all as B&Q brand standards. We also included the refurbishment of hard landscaping, new paving’s, door thresholds and gravel margins including new thermoplastic lining to fire escapes, parking bays, accessible parking and parent toddler parking bays.

Refurbishment of existing external cladding and transformation of curtain walling, including deep clean, make good, prime and full re-spray of new white, orange and anthracite coatings.

Deep clean and refurbishment of PVC Garden Centre canopies, decoration of external bollards and steelwork, replacement bird netting to Garden Centre, replacement of damaged glass to curtain walling and installation of Anthracite privacy film to windows.

The Sales Floor Areas
These required a deep clean of soiled curtain walling, glazing, ceilings, bulkheads and walls, replacement of existing entrance barrier matting, transformation of existing internal entrance doors and Garden Centre entrance doors from old B&Q Orange to new Anthracite finish, including, deep clean and making good of defects and installation of protection cages to auto door sensor and also replacement concrete thresholds to Garden Centre and Tradepoint entrances.

Staff and Back of House Areas
Work on these areas included replacement of traditional lighting with LED lights and Motion controlled sensors in lieu of switches, upgrade of staff welfare and back of house areas to improve working environment for B&Q colleagues.

An upgrade of the staff canteen and kitchen with new kitchen units, worktops, appliance and a TV to create staff HEART SPACE and relaxation areas for improved staff welfare.

Also included were new decorations, wall graphics and new floor coverings, re-decoration of walls, ceilings, skirtings, doors, frames and architraves with the introduction of feature wall colours, new ceiling tiles throughout and new B&Q standard signage/room identification.

New staff lockers and benches were installed, new hygienic wall and floor coverings to WC’s, new Venesta WC Cubicles, sanitaryware, IPS panels, vanity units and Urinals, including a full upgrade of Accessible WC’s including new drainage.

New M&E to WC’s and kitchen, water heaters, wall panel heaters and ventilation, new/refurbishment of flooring to offices, corridors, staff lockers etc. and new access control equipment to restricted access doors were also included.

Warehouse
Works included a new concrete/resin threshold to Warehouse/Sales floor transition due to defects in existing sub-floor, replacement of damaged blockwork wall, damaged by impact with forklifts and protection rails to warehouse walls.

The Alcema management team worked closely with the Store managers and staff to ensure clear concise communication throughout the projects and also ensured the budgets were not exceeded.

The B&Q staff were excited with the updated WC’s, staff canteen and relaxation areas, with up to date kitchen and tech appliances and refreshed decoration to staff office areas, greatly improving the working environment.

All the works were completed in a safe manner, with segregated working / public areas, minimising disruption to the store and its customers. The projects were completed in accordance with the B&Q branding standards.