The Planet Hollywood chain is owned by film star celebrities Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Their branded restaurants are located in countries all around the world, and as part of the chain’s expansion, a new venue was opened in Dubai - the first in the Arabian Gulf. It features a ‘handprint’ wall and a collection of Hollywood’s original memorabilia from blockbuster films such as Titanic, Men in Black and Air Force One.

The 360-cover, two storey new build restaurant was shaped in a giant globe - Planet Hollywood’s third venue in this shape, the other two being in Orlando and Paris. In order to create a ‘swirl’ type effect on the exterior of the globe, the architects Blair Eastwick and Holford Associates specified Decadex and Monolastex Smooth. Decadex - a self cleaning, copolymer based coating - was first spray applied to the glass reinforced plastic (GRP) panelled globe in white, and then overcoated with Monolastex Smooth - an acrylic based, highly durable coating - in a special Planet Hollywood corporate blue colour. An artist was specifically flown in from France to create different shades of the blue by mixing white, blue, black and oxide red colours and stars were painted on the structure in white.

As well as allowing such decorative effects to be created, LPL’s coatings are able to withstand the harsh conditions experienced in Dubai, such as extreme heat, high humidity and strong sunlight, without cracking, flaking or other signs of degradation.

Helpringham Windmill dates back to the mid nineteenth century and its brickwork structure was originally coated with black tar. This was highly susceptible to water penetration, which was obviously an unacceptable situation for the building owners when the windmill's use changed from working to residential.

A number of competitors' coating systems had previously been used to decorate and waterproof the windmill, but all had failed within a relatively short period of time. The most recent was a bitumastic coating, which lost adhesion and allowed water infiltration within only 18 months of application, due to the high moisture content of up to 80%. The refurbishment project had to be carried out according to the instructions of the Windmill Preservation Society, who specified that the windmill's brickwork profile had to be maintained across the whole structure.

Monolastex Smooth - a decorative, acrylic based coating - was subsequently chosen because of its long-running track record of use on windmills and lighthouses and its proven ability to allow the substrate to 'breathe'. The coating's BBA-certified 15 year lifespan was also a distinct advantage, as was its highly aesthetic finish. Two coats were applied to the structure, of which the top coat was coloured black to match the windmill's original black tar appearance.

A highly durable, decorative finish was required for the internal walls of the Grand Fifty Tower, a prestigious new office building in Kaohsiung. Architects C.Y. Lee & Partners sought an attractive, elastomeric coating to protect corridors, halls and other open areas, and specified that the chosen system must be capable of tolerating both thermal and structural movement.

White Monolastex Smooth was chosen from the 13 standard colours available. One of the most important reasons for its selection was that its water based formulation will cure in as little as 30 minutes, thereby matching the performance of any solvent based system without the associated threat of hazardous fumes.

An elastomeric, weatherproof wall coating was required to provide long term decorative protection for a private residential villa in Jeddah. The specification called for a water based coating which would reduce solar heat gain and resist embrittlement or colour fading upon exposure to ultra-violet light.

Monolastex Smooth was chosen because it offersBBA-certified minimum durability of either 10 or 15 years, depending on the chosen system. Other advantages were its extremely fast drying characteristics, which allow more than one coat to be applied on the same day, and its ability to protect against attack by the chlorides present in salt spray - a form of deterioration to which buildings in coastal cities such as Jeddah are frequently susceptible.

When converting a 1830’s Grade II listed building in Surrey into five luxury apartments, Latchmere Properties sought an exterior wall coating that would provide reliable protection against water penetration whilst maintaining a bright, aesthetic appearance throughout its design life.

Monolastex Smooth - a water based, weatherproof coating -

was specified on the basis of these criteria, as well as theproduct’s leading track record of successfully complementing the natural character of many buildings of historical importance and architectural merit throughout the world. With a BBA certified life span of 15 years before first maintenance is required, Monolastex Smooth lasts much longer than ordinary masonry paints and resists the unsightly flaking and cracking associated with traditional materials.

The product is available in 13 standard matt colours, but for this project, a specially produced colour was formulated. In recognition of the impressive renovation, the luxury property has since received a conservation award from Elmbridge Borough Council.

Declared officially open in December 1993, the ASOT bus station in Ankara ranks amongst the largest in the world. Consisting largely of steel reinforced concrete, the structure required effective protection against carbonation and water penetration, whilst the high temperatures to which it is regularly exposed demanded coatings which could tolerate significant thermal movement in the substrate.

All external walls were therefore treated with Decadex, a highly elastomeric anti-carbonation coating which resists attack by weathering, ultra-violet light and atmospheric pollution. A second high performance finish, Monolastex Smooth, was applied to all internal walls to provide a decorative, flexible finish and to provide additional protection against aggressive chemicals. Available in a wide range of colours, both coatings are water based and last, on average, well in excess of 15 years.

The five-star Royal Bath Hotel is undoubtedly one of Dorset's most impressive and well-known hotels, having been established over 150 years ago. With almost 140 bedrooms and excellent facilities including a heated swimming pool, spa baths and a beauty salon, it occupies a prominent position on Bournemouth's seafront.

Due to attack from UV light and salt water from sea spray, the hotel's external rendered walls required refurbishment to ensure the hotel looked in pristine condition. Monolastex Smooth - a water based, weatherproof, acrylic coating - was chosen on the basis of a highly successful previous application at one of the De Vere group's other prestigious hotels on the South Coast, the Grand Hotel in Brighton.

Monolastex Smooth's effectiveness is also demonstrated by the product's certification by the BBA that a two coat application will last at least 15 years before first maintenance is required. Monolastex Smooth is able to resist UV degradation and has an elastomeric formulation which will ensure the coating will not crack or flake when subjected to movement.

A decorative, waterproof coating was required for the protection of the external walls of a new prefabricated house in Venezuela. The coating needed to be highly aesthetic, as well as able to withstand demanding weather conditions such as constant exposure to UV light and high humidity.

Monolastex Smooth - a waterborne, acrylic based coating - was subsequently chosen for the project because it offers total weatherproof protection for at least 15 years before first maintenance. It does not embrittle with age or UV exposure and maintains a bright, clean appearance throughout its lifespan. In addition, it is so rapid curing that two coats can even be applied on the same working day, thus ensuring that contracts are quickly completed.

Available in a range of attractive colours with special colours made to order, the standard magnolia was chosen for this project.