Customers at Tesco stores in Banbury and Camberley continued to shop without interruption while D-Drill (Master Drillers) Ltd carried out concrete drilling as part of the major upgrade to both premises.

At Banbury, the improvements, including the construction of a mezzanine floor and travelator, effectively double 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 roof sections for the lifts.

In the existing refrigerated part of the store, D-Drill drilled out sections for ventilation shafts. The work was carried out from a service duct underneath the floor, using an inverted drill.

In Tesco’s flagship Camberley store – the biggest in the UK – D-Drill was called in to remove the cash point machines at the store entrance. The concrete was cut in sections – yeach 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 generating dust. With a tent to screen us, shoppers were hardly aware of the work going on.’

D-Drill has carried out diamond drilling and concrete cutting for 23 Tesco stores nationwide. It is currently working on the new Ashford store.