Refurbishment at Prince Edward Duke of Kent Court
A full internal refurbishment of an RMBI care home in Stisted, Essex, delivered in phases over 24 weeks while the home stayed fully operational and all 50 residents remained in place.
The works covered decoration, flooring, bathrooms, a new kitchen, lighting, handrails and electrical improvements across communal areas, corridors, offices and staff spaces. Many residents live with dementia, so the finished home needed to be brighter, safer and easier to find your way around, without losing its homely feel.
What the home needed.
The home's corridors were dimly lit, its bathrooms were dated and not fully accessible, and worn flooring had become a trip risk. RMBI wanted the home modernised without moving residents out.
- Modernise bathrooms, the kitchen, flooring and electrical systems
- Improve accessibility for residents with mobility needs
- Introduce dementia-friendly design features
- Reduce energy use with upgraded lighting
- Improve staff workflow
- Keep the home warm, dignified and homely
What we delivered.
- Decoration and joinery throughout, including 4,100m² of painted surfaces
- 1,200m² of durable, slip-resistant flooring
- 6 bathrooms refurbished, with walk-in showers and accessible sanitaryware
- A new Howdens kitchen
- 6 communal spaces improved: 2 lounges, 2 dining rooms, an activity room and the garden area
- 4 offices and staff areas refurbished
- 14 corridors addressed, with 284m of new handrails
- 184 energy-efficient LED luminaires with presence detection and automatic dimming
- Electrical upgrades, emergency features and updated fire signage
What made it difficult.
A full internal refurbishment had to be carried out in a fully operational care home, where many residents live with dementia and can be sensitive to noise, unfamiliar people and changes to their surroundings.
Communal areas had to stay usable, routes had to stay safe, and the home's fire compartmentation had to remain intact throughout. Long lead times on specialist dementia-safe fixtures also had the potential to hold up the programme.
How we delivered it.
- Phased, zoned works so essential communal areas stayed open
- Noisy tasks scheduled around mealtimes and activities
- Daily contact with the home's management, plus weekly written reports
- Dust barriers, protective coverings, low-VOC materials and clearly signed safe routes
- Dementia-friendly design: contrasting colours to aid orientation, non-reflective surfaces and lighting trials to get tone and brightness right
- Fire plans reviewed before any alterations, with all new penetrations correctly fire-stopped
- Specialist fixtures ordered early, with compliant temporary alternatives where needed
- Every phase inspected before sign-off
The outcome.
The refurbishment was completed on time and within budget, with zero health and safety incidents, and the home stayed open throughout.
Corridors are brighter and safer, bathrooms are accessible, and communal areas feel warmer and more welcoming. The new lighting cuts energy use, while the handrails, accessible bathrooms and dementia-friendly design support residents' independence.
Have a similar project?
See the standard.
What the client said.
Having overseen the refurbishment projects at both Prince Edward Duke of Kent Court and Devonshire Court, I was very pleased with the professionalism and commitment demonstrated by the team throughout.
Both projects were delivered within live care environments, requiring careful planning and consideration for residents and staff while extensive refurbishment works were carried out, including bathrooms, kitchens, flooring, decoration, lighting, handrails and electrical improvements.
From the outset, the projects were well planned and effectively managed. Clear programmes of work were produced and followed, with all works completed in accordance with our specification, to a very high standard, and within the agreed timescales and budget.
Communication throughout was excellent. Weekly progress meetings ensured that we were kept fully informed at every stage, and any changes to the programme were communicated clearly and promptly.
The quality of the finished work is excellent, and we are extremely pleased with the outcome. Just as importantly, the team were approachable, considerate and genuinely pleasant to work with throughout both projects.
The whole project has made a real difference to the home, creating a fresh, welcoming and attractive environment for our residents, their families and our staff. The improvements have helped enhance the overall appearance of the home and have contributed to creating a warm, pleasant and comfortable setting for everyone.
It was a pleasure working with you and your team throughout the project. We really appreciate the quality of work, their professionalism shown and the end result. It was wonderful to see the transformation come together and we are very proud of how our home now looks.
I would highly recommend Profix Installs for their outstanding work in refurbishing our care home.
From start to finish, the team demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, care and attention to detail. The refurbishment included our bathrooms, corridors and communal areas, all of which have been transformed to an exceptionally high standard.
What really stood out was the team's commitment to getting every detail right. They worked professionally and respectfully within a busy care home environment, understanding the importance of minimising disruption to our residents and staff while maintaining a safe, clean and organised working environment throughout.
The quality of the workmanship is excellent, and the finished areas look modern, welcoming and extremely well presented. Nothing appeared to be too much trouble, and the team consistently showed pride in their work and a willingness to go the extra mile.
Communication was excellent throughout the project, and the professional manner of everyone involved gave us complete confidence that the work was in safe hands.
We are extremely pleased with the finished refurbishment and would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Profix Installs to anyone looking for a reliable, professional company that takes genuine pride in delivering high-quality work.
A fantastic job from a professional team — thank you to everyone at Profix Installs.
Related case studies
