West Lakes Apartments, Adelaide
Project Overview
Some days the world just feels right. And with a view like this, it’s one of those rare “shout it from the rooftops” moments.
Adelaide Branch Manager Sol Wilson recently oversaw the restoration of 650 square metres of tiles atop a three-storey lakeside apartment complex on Trimmer Parade, Adelaide. Surrounded by parklands, landscaped gardens and just minutes from the beach, the property is an enviable location.
“It was breathtaking,” says Sol. “Working up there in the mornings with the sun hitting the lake – I even took some footage of the view and shared it with friends.”
In addition to the work on the roof, a Grant Painters crew of four completed a full exterior repaint of the 12-apartment building. The aim was to protect the structure, modernise its appearance and enhance street appeal.
The change was dramatic. The once-dated cream wall and red roof were replaced with a contemporary Colorbond palette of Surfmist, Shale Grey for trims, and Basalt for the roof.
Together these updates brought new life to a well-positioned complex – ensuring it now looks as good as the view from the top.
Scope of Work
- Full exterior repaint of 12 apartments
- Three-storey structure with difficult access
- Tiled roof restoration and waterproofing using a three-coat membrane system
- Colour scheme modernisation: From red/cream to Surfmist walls, Shale Grey trim, and Basalt roof
- Spot priming of corrosion
Challenges and solutions
Operation Rejuvenation: After cleaning, the roof was repointed.
Roof restoration and waterproofing
The tiled roof was one a major focus for the refurbishment.
With extensive experience in roof restoration, the team pressure cleaned all surfaces, replaced broken tiles, and carefully repointed using a flexible acrylic system.
All cracks – including those in lead flashing – were sealed with polyurethane caulking as a waterproofing measure.
A clear binding primer was applied, followed by two coats of durable Dulux AcraTex roof membrane .
This transformation not only extended the life of the roof but gave it a finish that harmonised with the new wall and trim colours.
A new look: The traditional red tiles are given a Basalt makeover. Below: A close-up of the finish.
Difficult Access
The building’s internal courtyards and lakeside position posed serious access challenges.
“We used a 65-foot straight stick boom to access the roof, with temporary roof anchor systems and harnesses used to safely navigate all areas,” said Sol.
In other areas, we used a spider lift where space was tight.
While the staff were working at height, they also trimmed back wayward palm fronds to prevent any damage to the new paint work.
Rust treatment: Spot priming was carried out to enhance long-term durability.
Communication and Coordination
Managing 12 apartment owners meant careful planning. The team worked closely with the Body Corporate and provided timely notifications via phone calls, texts, and door notices.
At times, deadlines were compressed. For instance, all garage roller doors were prepped and repainted in a single day to minimise disruption.
“Communication is a large part of project management in multi-storey residential buildings,” says Sol.
“Consistency counts. We liaised almost daily with the Body Corporate manager, knocked on doors and distributed letters to let all the residents know what was happening throughout the entire course of the project.”
Results
The project delivered a striking transformation to the lakeside complex, combining functionality with fresh, modern appeal.
The restored tiled roof is now waterproofed and protected, while the updated Colorbond-inspired paint scheme modernised the entire building.
Despite access challenges and the complexity of managing 12 individual apartment owners, the team completed the works safely, on time, and with minimal disruption.
According to Body Corporate chairman Lee Rocher: “Sol and the team were absolutely wonderful. They were really friendly and decent.
“Nothing was too much trouble. The process was seamless.
“I didn’t really have to do too much. They took on the task of contacting the residents and managing the work schedule to ensure everything went smoothly.
“I’m really pleased with the result. We’ve gone from a seventies yellowy-brown colour scheme to a modern look”.
Around 1300 hours were invested in the project.
More than 540 litres of paint were applied to the exterior walls and trim. On the roof meanwhile, we used 120 litres of primer followed by 300 litres of membrane top coat.
The result has significantly boosted street appeal and extended the life of the structure – matching the quality of the building to its breathtaking location.