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Miskin Manor Flood

Miskin Manor Flood

On the 15th of February 2020, the UK was struck by the powerful Storm Dennis, bringing forth blustery winds and heavy rainfall of record breaking proportions.

Wales experienced extraordinary amounts of rainfall, with some areas exceeding more precipitation in just 48 hours than they would typically receive in an entire month. The village of Crai recording 6.2 inches of rainfall in a single day.

Consequences were severe, and it has been estimated around 1,000 properties across the UK were flooded, and 20,000 homes left without electricity for several days.

Storm Dennis and its torrential rainfall were particularly harsh in the South Wales area and historic establishments like The Miskin Manor, a grade 2 listed hotel, were not spared. During the storm, part of the roof had been torn off, leaving significant damage.

The hotel has resided amongst glorious Welsh countryside since the 10th Century. It boasts a rich history, originally being occupied by Princess Nest of Glamorgan.

Unfortunately this is not the first time Miskin Manor had experienced disaster, as it suffered two major fires both in 1922 and 1952. Nonetheless, the current owners undertook restoration efforts in 1996, allowing the hotel to stand today as a venue for prestigious events, weddings, Sunday dinners, business meetings and functions.

Although temporary roofing being erected after the storm to mitigate the water ingress, the hotel continued to experience leaks whenever it rained. Further misfortune meant the hotel had to close its doors to guests until June 2020, due to lockdown restrictions imposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miskin Manor wet ceiling.

Rainbow Restoration Cardiff was appointed by a local loss adjuster, who they had previously closely collaborated with, to attend to inspect the damage and compile a report.

Through their assessment they discovered rainwater had infiltrated multiple bedrooms and down through to the kitchen and corridors, damaging various floor coverings, ceilings, and décor. Even part of the plasterboard ceiling had fallen in the corridor.

Ceiling of Miskin Manor on floor.

The water eventually came to a rest in the main function room, adversely affecting the wooden flooring and seeping beneath the safety flooring of the commercial kitchen.

During their initial visit, they obtained approval to appoint their electrician to ensure the safety of all the affected electrical systems. They also installed stabilisation equipment to preserve the hotel’s structures and materials from any further damage.

Once the new roof was installed and property made watertight, Rainbow Cardiff returned to the hotel to continue the restoration work. They began the uplift and disposal of all safety Altro floor coverings that had been adhered to the kitchen floor, as well as floor coverings from affected corridors, bedrooms, and halls.

Once the stabilisation equipment was removed, differing drying regimes, tailored to the specific construction of floors and walls, were then installed throughout the property.

It was identified that trapped moisture remained below the tongue and groove timber floor in the main function room. To address this, a positive pressure drying system was installed into the void to facilitate the drying of the subfloor and eliminate excess moisture.

Cardiff’s team of experts were able to minimise customer disruption and pass on significant cost savings by restoring the wood block flooring instead of replacing it entirely, which would have been a far more costly process.

Once drying had completed, holes were drilled into the wood floor and finished to create a wood notch effect. The entire floor area was then stripped back to the natural wood and a fresh finish applied, with due care taken to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the property.

Given the restoration took place during the height of the COVID19 pandemic, strict adherence to all relevant health and safety risk protocols was paramount. The team ensured all necessary risk assessments and method statements were clearly defined throughout the claim lifecycle, prioritising the well-being of everyone on-site.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Rainbow Restoration Cardiff were able to continue works to the hotel throughout lockdown due to their key worker status and the tireless work-ethic of their dedicated staff.

The managing director of the hotel was extremely pleased with the entire process, and praised them for relaying consistent updates and timescales, which ultimately facilitated a structured re-opening of the hotel.

Miskin manor after restoration works.