Signwright (UK) look back on refurbishing Beverley Racecourse
One of the most common questions clients often have is how durable architectural films are.
To answer that, we’ve recently revisited a project we worked on in 2016 to see how it was standing the test of time...
The project
In 2016, the experts at William Smith worked with Signwright (UK) on a prestigious contract for Beverley Racecourse, focusing on refurbishing the bar and other areas used for corporate entertaining using an architectural finish.
The brief required a finish that would complement the features of the overall project, providing a high-end look without a high-end cost, all within a tight 12-week timescale. Our team recommended 3M’s DI-NOC self-adhesive film as as the premium solution to meet the demands of this testing application.
With more than 1000 patterns in a wide range of shades, surface textures and finishes, DI-NOC offers unlimited flexibility to create natural or hi-tech designs for all sorts of environments.
Speaking at the time, Signwright managing director Matthew Wright said: “In order to help the architect and client select the colour and finish from this extensive range, William Smith supplied sample boards of the material so that everyone concerned could get a real feel for the product and how it would look. This was essential to the project due to the prestige nature of the area of the racecourse concerned.”
To create a sense of warmth and opulence, wood-effect films were chosen in a number of shades, giving the racecourse a luxurious feel with an element of the natural world.
The results
More than six years on, the racecourse still looks as good as new, thanks to the remarkable endurance of 3M’s DI-NOC film.
The range is made of durable cast PVC, which can be used to extend the life of existing fixtures and fitting by an average lifespan of 12 years. In fact, in many cases, it is more resilient than other wall coverings, with four times more resistance to scratching over painted surfaces. This ensures a high-quality finish that is scuff and abrasion resistant to withstand everyday wear and tear, particularly in the bar areas of the racecourse.
The films are up to six times more UV resistant than other versions on the market, meaning they won’t fade in the sun, even in areas close to windows or doors exposed to natural light. They are also easily cleanable (something we’re all more conscious about these days) with standard cleaning products, with no deterioration of the surface.
All of which means that Beverly Racecourse looks as good now as it did the day it was installed.
What’s more, given the low cost and ease of using architectural films, it has also provided a sustainable of way of creating a whole new look, without the wastage of ripping out and replacing. The project saved a lot of structurally sound material from going to landfill, as well as saving the client budget too!
Wrapping with 3M DI-NOC is fast becoming the preferred option for updating commercial interiors. Its hard to believe that architectural finishes can really be as durable, as more well-known options such as HPL or veneers, but this project is such a great example of that. The surface finishes look just as good as the day they were installed.
Have a project in mind? You can talk to us, request a sample or find your nearest trusted installer, all on the Architextural website.