At Banbury, the improvements, including the construction of a mezzanine floor and travelator, effectively doubled the trading area of the store without extending its footprint. Screened from sight of shoppers, D-Drill operated throughout the night to diamond-core drill 800mm diameter, 350mm thick apertures in the concrete floor to accommodate the concrete piles that would support the mezzanine area. D-Drill also cut the bases for the travelator pits and openings for the lift shafts.
In the existing refrigerated area of the store, D-Drill cut out sections for ventilation shafts. The work was carried out from a service duct beneath the live sales floor, using an inverted 350mm diameter diamond drill, which involved penetrating steel decking prior to drilling through the reinforced concrete structure.
In Tesco's flagship Camberley store D-Drill was called in to remove the reinforced concrete roof above the cash point machines at the store entrance. The 200mm thick concrete was cut in sections - each was lowered down and removed from site. Again, all the work was carried out while the shop was open at night, causing no disruption to shoppers.
John Barber of D-Drill comments: 'We are able to work quietly and without causing disruption or any inconvenience to late night shoppers.'
D-Drill has carried out diamond drilling and concrete cutting for 23 Tesco stores nationwide. It is currently involved in a refurbishment of the Ealing Broadway, West London, store.