Rochdale Crematorium
East Lodge Refurbishment
The Grade II listed building was left derelict for around fifteen years with very little maintenance carried out on the property. The project brief was to renovate and refurbish the East lodge which is located at the front of Rochdale Cemetery, which included stone work repairs, re- roofing including all new trusses, restatement of 1st and ground floor, full electrical rewire and intruder alarm installation, heating system along with hot and cold water installation, all joinery elements and finishes including internal and external decoration.
Due to the age and listing of the building we had to be sympathetic to the materials used to allow the building to breath as it should. Externally all stone work was matched perfectly sourcing from reclaim yards and bedded on lime mortar along with the whole building which was repointed. Internally lime plaster was used and built up in some instances to around 5 coats to get the sooth and level finish that we required. A Keim mineral paint was used to decorate internally due to its breathable and high permeability value as well as its resistant to mould and mildew.
Due to the location of the East lodge there was a procession of funerals passing on a daily basis and we therefore had to be respectful of this. We liaised with the cemetery staff every morning to ascertain what times the services would be coming to the cemetery and planned the day’s work accordingly. Ensuring none of the noisy and dusty elements were carried out during these times.
The project was complete within the budget and the cemetery staff are now enjoying their new offices.