Blue Cross play barn benefits from Diamond range

Diamond paints specified for Blue Cross redecoration project

23 Nov 2016

Products from Dulux Trade’s Diamond range of paints have been used to revitalise the play barn at Lewknor’s Blue Cross rehoming centre.

The centre, which is based in Lewknor, Oxfordshire, provides a safe haven for abandoned or unwanted animals, until they are rehomed. The play barn contributes a space for the animals to exercise; it is supplemented by a grassy outdoor area, featuring a paddling pool, sandpit and an assault course.

Whilst the dogs at the Blue Cross benefit from this arrangement, the play room is subject to constant wear and tear; with excited animals bringing the grime of the outdoors in, it requires regular cleaning and maintenance.

Dulux Trade’s Commercial Design Service team was asked to suggest a plan for redecoration. The Blue Cross wanted to improve the appearance of the room, using a product capable of withstanding dirt to reduce the amount of time spent cleaning the space.

Its ‘scruff, scrub and stain resistant’ Diamond range was specified for use.

Diamond

The company’s Commercial Specifier team recommended a colourful scheme to create an aesthetically-pleasing environment for the benefit of the centre’s visitors and staff. The Diamond range, which has been developed to resist harsh dirt and stain accidents, was used to create clusters of yellow and blue, contrasting the magnolia side walls.

The window alcoves were painted lime green to enhance the appearance of natural light. The decorating job was carried out by Aylesbury-based contractors, A Splash of Colour.

Dulux Trade’s Diamond range offers an extended maintenance cycle and enduring finish; it is available in a variety of Matt, Eggshell and High Performance Eggshell paints. As it has been designed to hold its original appearance for as long as possible, the finish can be cleaned without difficulty, reducing the need for frequent redecoration.

Reduced maintenance cycle

To test the paint’s capabilities, three of the centre’s young residents – Staffies Katie, Mary and Doofus – were encouraged to play in the room, after rolling around in the grass, sand and water outside. After the excursion, the play barn looked as it does on an average day: dirt was ingrained into the floor and the freshly painted walls.

Using a sponge, soap and water, the Dulux Trade team was able to restore the walls to their previous condition. Diamond’s formula has been engineered to ensure that water-based stains can be removed with water; detergent or sugar soap is not necessary.

After 30 minutes of cleaning, the magnolia walls, which had been blemished with mud, grass marks and sand, were stainless and bright. Since the redecoration project, staff members have spent less time cleaning the walls; their maintenance cycle has been significantly reduced by Diamond.

“We will definitely be using it for our next project,” says the centre’s manager, Nicola Bishop.