"water"

This prestigious new development is comprised of 11 superb, terraced townhouses & cottages. Nestled just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful Ballycastle Marina, the exclusive development of The Quay Road Residences showcases a mix of stunning terraced townhouses and cottages.AG’s HomePave Cobble in Auburn was perfect for the new development adding character and warmth to the homes entrance and exterior. Complementing the stunning appearance of the house the driveway creates a bright and charming first impression for homeowners.Rumbled to give a rustic appearance, HomePave Cobble is known for its beautiful finished and distinctive colour with hard-wearing capabilities and exceptional long-lasting colours. Also available in a smooth finish, HomePave paving is extremely popular with homeowners and developers.The driveways benefit from HomePave’s tight joints which make it easy to install and maintain while also helping to prevent weeds. HomePave Cobble is supplied in a single size unit and also a mixed pack of three different sizes. A permeable and smooth option is also available.We understand the importance of sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. That’s why AG’s paving was chosen, meeting high sustainability standards. Our eco-conscious approach ensures that the townhouse development not only looks incredible but also minimises its impact on the environment, with 100% renewable energy used and 90% recycled water used in the manufacturing process, as well as being 100% recyclable.

AG was appointed by Meegan Builders for the provision of hard landscaping products in the construction of a brand-new office and manufacturing building for Combilift, Co. Monaghan.AG supplied its premium Plaza paving in Salt and Pepper for the front of the building structure; a popular 600x200x50 granite water-etched paving, which offers long life with minimal maintenance. AG’s Plaza paving offered the correct power and durability to be fit for purpose, without sacrificing on aesthetics. Plaza is manufactured using extremely high-quality aggregates, giving it uncommon durability and excellent slip resistance that truly lasts under areas of high traffic and pressure.A colour mix of Salt and Pepper was selected to contrast with the lighter building structure and to offer a hard-wearing alternative to traditional granite composites. AG’s Plaza paving is produced in the UK using locally sourced aggregates, with a high percentage of recycled materials in the base mix. 100% renewable energy is used during the production process, something AG has been committed to introducing throughout its product ranges.AG also supplied Steintec products to complement its Plaza paving; in this instance, Tufftop, a high-performance jointing mortar designed for modular paving was selected. This free-flowing grout makes paving surface cleaning very straightforward and when used in conjunction with AG’s Plaza block, ensures longevity and minimal maintenance for Combilift’s new manufacturing base.

Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester, has recently undergone a partial renovation program that includes a mulit-faith prayer room. Wudu foot wash troughs were required to complete the necessary facilities.Architects, Wilson Mason were charged with designing and overseeing the works that were carried out by, contractor, Warden Construction. GEC Anderson were specified to provide two purpose made foot wash troughs in stainless steel. One single user and one two user trough were required and were included within a very confined space.The design of the troughs was completely bespoke and stainless steel was the material of choice. GEC Anderson were able to provide the solution that is both highly practical but also completely practical and durable. The ergonomic requirements were important and the flexibility of custom stainless steel allowed for the creation of the special troughs to suit the precisely prescribed design. Each trough includes its own, trapped, gully to promote rapid discharge of water.Founded in England in 1962, GEC Anderson has pioneered the development of made-to-measure stainless steel products. Today, the company’s range also includes standard and modular stainless steel options. Products include sinks, worktops, cabinets, shelving, splashbacks, doors and sanitaryware for use in domestic, commercial and specialist environments. All products are manufactured to ISO 9001 and backed by a comprehensive support service from planning and product specification to installation and maintenance.

Saffron Walden County High School is an outstanding academy with over 2100 students on roll. Having already installed a large canopy in 2016 to provide a covered area for students to eat, increasing student numbers put increasing pressure on the existing catering facilities and by 2018 the school were desperate for additional dining capacity.Attention turned to the school’s derelict open-air swimming pool – a dangerous and unattractive area located between the sports hall and tennis courts. Archer Building Consultancy, a long-term provider of the premises services to the trust, proposed and delivered a scheme which involved emptying and removing the swimming pool along with the associated buildings and equipment, filling and levelling the area and installing a food pod and large covered seating area.Streetspace were contracted to design, manufacture and install a huge 25.0 x 15.0 m Triton Maxx clearspan polycarbonate roof canopy. With a symmetric form, the canopy provides covered seating for over 200 students as well as plenty of queuing space for the remote servery station. Integrated gutters and downpipes are connected to surface water drainage to help keep the area as dry as possible.A canopy of this size has many possible uses in addition to dining and social space – it could be used for assemblies, sports activities or as a parent waiting area, creating a truly multifunctional space. Windbreak cladding can be added as required in exposed locations to enable year-round use.

Architectural glazing systems by Kawneer were specified for their “robustness and quality” for two linked 16-storey apartment blocks on the last plot to be developed in one of Britain’s fastest-growing property hot spots - the £37 million BTR (Build To Rent) towers at Erie Basin in Salford Quays, Manchester, a stone’s throw from MediaCityUK.Kawneer’s AA®100 curtain walling features as strip curtain wall to copper-coloured rainscreen areas of the towers at Erie Basin. In addition, AA®110 curtain walling features on link bridges and as floor-to-ceiling screens facing the water. While the AA®100 system uses 50mm sightlines, the AA®110 system uses 65mm but both in this case were zone-drained. They are complemented by AA®541 open-out casement window inserts and AA®720 ultra thermally-efficient entrance doors.The Kawneer systems were installed over eight months by a team of up to 35 from approved specialist sub-contractor FK Group for main contractor GRAHAM and client Glenbrook, the privately-owned property development and investment company, who acquired the site from the Peel Group.The prominent dockside development is GRAHAM’s second project with Glenbrook, with work also underway on another £27 million BTR project in Ellesmere Street, Castlefield, Manchester, which also features Kawneer systems.

wedi Primo completes luxury in central London Hotel.The Apex Temple Court Hotel is a luxury 4 star hotel, just off Fleet Street central London. Full architectural and interior design was by Ian Springford Architects, Edinburgh.A key factor in the selection of the wedi shower units for each of the 184 bedrooms was the requirement to achieve a high performance quality waterproof bespoke solution capable of adapting to the on site conditions. Ian Springford Architects has specified wedi shower units since 2004 and Apex Temple Court is the fourth Apex hotel where they have been successfully installed. Bespoke pre-fabricated shower units - Fast installation. The key benefits of using wedi were that the Fundo shower design provided simple, fast adaption to the individual shower configurations on site, as well as the detail of enabling the units to extend under the shower door to promote drainage back into the shower area from water falling off the door when in use.Complete prefabricated shower units allow fast dry and accurate construction in ONE integrated product system rather than a combination of different individual manufacturer’s products creating the risk of potential failures between the different systems during assembly and installation. The finished result was a fast track installation of a factory prepared shower system capable of on-site adjustment, delivering a completely waterproof system backed by warranty.

Commercial to residential, it may be last orders for some of our great British pubs, for other’s its discovering exciting ways of transforming commercial structures into luxury residential dwellings.  The growing trend of converting old inns offers new homes a unique history whilst being packed with character and features.Delta Registered Installers, Advance Property Preservation Ltd were engaged to assist on a troublesome vaulted basement to a property, based in central London which had already been converted into high living accommodation.Just off the basement area were two large vaults around 12m long. Made from brick barrel construction, this below ground space had previously used for storing kegs of ale!One of these vaults had previously been converted into a spa area with jacuzzi and steam room, the other was used as a storage area. The owners had previously had the storeroom tanked with a Type A, render system, however this approach repeatedly failed, allowing for substantial water ingress which was causing damage to items stored in this area.With Structural Waterproofing one of the major contributors to project failure lies with the design. When hiring contractors, ensure the design, procurement of materials and installation is undertaken by one specialist will naturally reduce these known and associated risks. A specialist contractor will always be able to offer quality assurances.

Liberty Point is a large student accommodation building positioned in a prime location in Southampton, close to the marina and city centre. The old asphalt and felt coverings had begun to display defects including splits, blisters and delamination; through which water ingress was occurring.The property management company responsible for the maintenance of the buildings decided to act quickly and find a permanent solution to the leaking that could be installed without disruption to the busy students living there.The SolutionPolyroof’s Protec System was decided upon as the best option due to the numerous details that would have to be encapsulated on the roof area. There is no liquid system that can do this quicker or more effectively than Protec; its unique RapidCure technology sees it turn from a liquid to a robust and flexible membrane that can be walked on after 30-60 minutes following application. Furthermore, its ability to coat an old roof without the need for stripping existing means that installations can be carried out within stringent time frames and with minimum disruption.CompletionWilliams Roofing Contractors Ltd, a highly experienced Polyroof approved contractor, carried out the installation. The quality of the workmanship coupled with the right choice of roofing material made for a superior refurbishment solution that remedied all the existing issues. The client was delighted with the finished roof and will have guaranteed peace of mind for decades to come.

This Grade II listed windmill in Blakesley was built in 1832 and bought by the current owners 25 years ago. Since then, they have been keeping up with the restoration of the property.The owners stayed in a lighthouse during a vacation and read up that KEIM had been used on lighthouses due to its hard wearing and durable formula. They specified KEIM to their decorator, who subsequently got in touch to arrange a site visit.Dave Smith, Senior Sales Executive of KEIM Mineral Paints, visited the property in May 2018. It had various different coatings applied over the years, including limewash, none of which were particularly successful and the most recent limewash was patchy. The owners were looking for a long lasting, durable but breathable coating.The building was sand blasted to remove the existing coatings and allow for KEIM Silan Primer to be applied to give protection against water ingress. An extra coat of KEIM Silan Primer was applied on the top third of the building as this area was most exposed.The KEIM Royalan system was applied as it withstands harsh weather conditions and is specified for exposed locations. Its advanced formulation makes it ideal for coating hard substrates such as brickwork. The owners commented “we are very happy with the level of service provided. Dave came out to visit us a few times and was extremely helpful, explaining what was required.”

Overlooking Lake Windermere, England's largest lake at 10.5 miles long, sits this impressive Victorian country house, High Wray Bank. Months of meticulous planning was needed involving the National Trust and Friends of the Lake District in order to organise and project manage the restoration and development of the site including the historic villa and barn, external works and underground swimming pool.Locally based Hyde Harrington who managed the restoration, contacted KEIM Mineral Paints at the start of the project back in 2021. They required a specific quality of paint that was both durable, and breathable. Paul Milligan, Senior Sales Executive for the North of England visited the project to complete a site survey and comprehensive specification.KEIM Universal Render was applied onto the existing stone building and blockwork extension as a base layer, followed by KEIM Mineralputz; a high quality, mineral rough plaster with a grain size of 5mm.All surfaces were lastly coated using KEIM Royalan in colour 9339, an off-white shade which compliments the new grey stone extension. KEIM Royalan was ideal for the location of this project with wetter lake district climes. It offers water resistant properties and withstands harsh weather conditions. This is a beautiful transformation and shows what can be achieved using KEIM products, which are durable, breathable and long-lasting. 

Interaction strives to create flexible, accessible spaces for their clients prioritising the wellbeing of those who use it, and allowing users to work in the way that suits them best.To support in creating these modern workspaces, Interaction partnered with BRITA VIVREAU to cater to the hydration needs and overall workplace wellbeing of their clients.Following the completion of a hassle-free specification process, Interaction partnered with BRITA to install the signature Extra C-Tap water dispenser in multiple corporate offices and co-working spaces across the country such as TCN Newark Works in Bath, Runway East in London, and in one of UK's most sustainable office buildings The Halo for Osborne Clarke, an international law firm based in Bristol.Todd Groves,Contract Account Manager, Interaction UK"The BRITA brand heritage, quality of the products and the ease of understanding our technical capabilities were our top 3 reasons for partnering with BRITA. We’re always mindful in our choice of suppliers and look to partner with brands who consider the impact they have on the environment. The BRITA Extra C-Tap was an easy choice as a hydration provider for a number of our clients. In addition to meeting filtration needs and becoming a focal point where employees can take a tea or coffee break or just chat, it is so versatile and dials up the aesthetic of any building project."

The 'HOOLA' in Tidal Basin Road in East London, gateway to the soon-to-be regenerated Royal Victoria Docks area, has transformed a brownfield site into two rippling 23 and 24 storey glass towers, that offer 360 apartments with a mix of studios, along with one, two and three-bedroom units.The buildings are super-insulated and the concrete frame will act as a heat sink – absorbing heat on warm days and releasing it back into apartments when it cools. An innovative link-up with the neighbouring ExCel Exhibition Centre will also see excess heat piped directly into the two towers. This will provide all the necessary heating and hot water requirements and significantly reduce maintenance costs by doing away with the need for individual boilers. A critical design requirement for such a super-insulated building was the avoidance of any risk of thermal bridging at the many concrete-to-concrete balcony connectivity points – so highly efficient structural thermal breaks were required throughout. The preferred solution was the Schöck Isokorb® T type K for cantilever balconies.Luke Smerdon-White, Technical Director at Thorp, takes up the story: "We had to design, manufacture and deliver 1410 precast concrete balcony sections that had to then be cast integrally with the in situ concrete structure." "The exposed front-face is curved, with almost 50 different dimensional configurations, while the internal face has a facetted line that had to correlate with the glazing line and opening doors."

Hoptbühl playing field in Villingen-Schwenningen, featuring products from PolytanA GEM OF A SPORTS FACILITYGood things come to those who wait, including in Villingen-Schwenningen. It took 20 years for the school playing field at Hoptbühl Gymnasium to be renovated. But all is well that ends well: the fully renovated sports field is proving to be a real gem. It features various products from sports surface specialist, Polytan.The road to the new sports facility was indeed long and rocky: barely linear, it was full of surprising twists and turns. The low point was when the dilapidated site was completely shut for safety reasons, and outdoor sport had to be removed from the school timetable. Then things started to change: in May 2019, the local council decided that the sports facility at Hoptbühl would finally be renovated. The result is an absolute gem that is unrivalled in the local area.After 15 months’ construction time, young athletes in Villingen-Schwenningen are delighted by a new artificial turf pitch surrounded by a four-lane running track, three long jump and two high jump runways, a throwing circle for shot put, a small playing field, two beach volleyball courts, three bouldering walls and a calisthenics street workout park. The sports facility was designed by Martin B. Kuberczyk of k3 LandschaftsArchitektur, based in Villingen-Schwenningen, and realised by Erhard Gfrörer & Sohn Schotterwerk, based in nearby Empfingen.Professional sports surfaces for successful training and competitionThe new facility features LigaTurf Cross football turf, in which Polytan has successfully combined artificial turf systems with textured (crimped) and smooth filaments. The former are known for their high cost-efficiency, robustness and low maintenance, while the latter are extremely popular among footballers for their authentic ball rolling characteristics, just like on natural grass. The running track was constructed using Polytan’s Rekortan M in rainbow blue, a professional sports surface for track and field stadiums, school sports facilities and competitive running tracks. The water-permeable, pour-coated surface is characterised by excellent acceleration and high tread elasticity. Users of the calisthenics street workout park are protected by Polytan’s PolyPlay FS fall protection surface, also in rainbow blue. The bulk-coated, water-permeable covering is extremely easy to care for and, thanks to its cushioning effect, protects against injuries in the event of falls.The attractive outdoor sports facility has been used by Hoptbühl’s 600 or so high school students since the start of the 2021/22 school year. To ensure optimal utilisation, students from the neighbouring Christy Brown School and Albert Schweitzer School can also use the facility for track and field, climbing, football or beach volleyball. In addition, the field is used by local clubs in the evening, and is therefore equipped with floodlights.The opening ceremony for the renovated sports field took place at the Hoptbühl Gymnasium in September, with a very special sports festival: just like at the Olympic Games, classes of students entered the stadium and mastered the various facilities in no time.

Bexley Park Sports and Social Club is home to a wide range of sporting facilities and teams, including bowling, squash, football and rugby. They also have a large function room that is available for hire. Read on to learn how Axter was able to help them with a complete roof refurbishment.Project overviewThe original roof had been on the building for over 40 years. It was coming to the end of its serviceable life and was starting to show signs of aging, such as leaks around the rooflights.Axter were brought in to carry out the roof refurbishment of the main building.Overall, this project ran very smoothly and we were incredibly happy with the result. The writing on the barrel roof was a lovely added touch by our Axtershield Installer partner, Henley’s Roofing Ltd.This case study will focus on the main roof. However, as we will touch on towards the end, the client was so pleased with the work that they decided to go on to refurbish the other three roof areas.ChallengesThis was a complex project for several reasons. Several different parts of the main building had been added over time, so there was a change of level details throughout the roof.Part of the building had a barrel roof section, which added an extra level of complexity to the job.As well as this, there were a few existing features, such as a water tank on the roof surrounded by rotten chipboard, which also had to be taken into consideration when it came to planning installation methods.SolutionsGiven the age of the roof and the defects observed, it was recommended that a full overlay be carried out.As well as the specific roofing considerations, Bexley Park Sports and Social Club were looking to keep within a tight budget. For this reason, the single layer overlay solution worked perfectly to provide a cost-effective option. Our Reinforced Bitumen Membranes (RBM) combine strength with longevity to provide a durable waterproofing system with a 20-year guarantee.The rotten chipboard was removed and replaced with timber cladding. Flame free Starcoat® PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) was used for the sections where it was necessary to eliminate fire risk. This cold-applied liquid system provided a great non-flammable solution.Systems in useExcel®Starcoat® PMMAAdditional works carried outThe client was very impressed with the quality of the work carried out on the main roof, and our ability to provide them with a cost-effective solution. The work came in under budget and they were so pleased with the job that they accelerated the project and decided to refurbish the other three club roofs – something that hadn’t been on the cards before. The initial work had provided them with the peace of mind that everything would go to plan and enhance the building, all with minimal disruption to the club. So we went on to refurbish the squash court, changing rooms and storage room roofs.Condition surveys were taken across all four of the roof areas. The additional roofing areas all needed re-decking as they were incredibly warn from ongoing water ingress.This meant we had to strip down to and remove the existing support structure, before installing a new ply deck, ready for the waterproofing works to go ahead. The changing room roof was pitched, adding an extra complexity to the job, as the shingle had to be replaced.

Urban development within St. Helier, the capital of Jersey is gathering momentum with URSA seeing its specialist insulation products specified at one of the capital’s newest and most ambitious developments. The largest of the Channel Islands, St. Helier is a lively harbour town and has become one of the UK's most popular tourist attractions, creating a high demand for ongoing residential and commercial development. Both its commercial port and marina, as well as the centre and the main neighborhoods, are undergoing an in-depth study for the renovation of its building stock and the transformation of the urban landscape it offers. The ultimate objective is a profound urban regeneration carried out through the creation of a commercial heart open to the sea, in the city centre, and modern, sustainable and healthy residential developments on the outskirts to ensure the demands of future growth. It also aims to reduce traffic and create a walkable city for pedestrians and cyclists with green spaces and open spaces. In the north of the city is Ann Court, a large development located next to a large municipal park built on the site of a former car park that has been demolished. Being developed by Andium Homes, construction is nearing completion on the development of 165 new homes of different sizes and orientations (with internal and external courtyards), but with a common standard: the energy efficiency and sustainability of the whole complex. To support the sustainable objectives, architects have specified a ventilated façade that guarantees thermal and acoustic comfort, whilst preventing moisture penetration and condensation. A correctly designed ventilated façade system also guarantees a fire safe structure, prolongs the life of the building and enhances its energy efficiency. As part of the specification, 2,400 square meters of 220mm URSA Walltec Black 32 were specified. The choice of material was the direct decision of the architect Stephen Marshall of Axis Mason Architects, who decided on the glass wool slabs after learning about their performance and the knowledge provided by URSA's technical office. URSA Walltec Black 32 is a semi-rigid glass wool slab treated with a water repellent additive. The slabs have a black glass fibre tissue to one side only that helps to hide the insulation in ventilated façades with open joints. It is a non-combustible product that does not contribute to the spread of fire, is water repellent and has high performance to ensure the thermal and acoustic comfort of the entire residential complex. Once the insulating material has been fixed, the façade is completed with the installation of the cladding to create cavity that ensures the properties of the system. This imposing façade enveloping the courtyards of Ann Court facilitates a new building in the north of St. Helier where social interaction, tranquility, quality, comfort and healthiness are guaranteed.  Ian Claydon, URSA UK Technical Manager, said: “We first became involved in this scheme in June 2020. We were approached by the architect for recommendations on correct choice of product and the thermal assessment for the external walls.  “During the early stages of the project, we were in regular contact providing advice on the target U-value in the wall(a commendably low 0.18 W/m2K), as well as the impact on Jersey SAP energy assessment and the technicalities of rainscreen cladding. The team were particularly impressed with the speed of response and our wider technical knowledge, helping to support the perfect specification.” 

BriefAs part of the drive to revitalise Kirkby Town Centre, the local authority, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, has been significantly investing in regeneration works. A redundant B&M shopping centre formed an important part of the uplift.At 36,000 sq ft, the empty precinct was the largest vacant unit in the town centre and was in need of significant repair and modernisation. Bringing the building up to date was crucial in encouraging businesses back to the area and delivering more choice of retail outlets to visitors.The project was estimated to cost £1.66million, with £450,000 allocated to the roof renovation, which was to be carried out by Paramount Roofing Systems, in association with IKO.ChallengesThe busy, central location of the shopping centre presented several challenges for the roof installation. The existing roof needed a comprehensive refurbishment, including stripping back to the metal decking and removal of all layers and outdated materials.A total of 48 redundant skylights needed to be carefully and meticulously taken out as they were no longer needed or functional. Any obsolete ventilation fans and plant equipment also had to be removed, as streamlining roof space was essential for efficiency. This all had to take place before the installation commenced.When it came to delivery of materials, there was limited laydown due to the surrounding live loading bays for neighbouring shops and this lack of space also affected the storage of the materials on-site.Inclement weather presented a significant challenge for the team. Despite operations taking place during the summer, torrential downpours were frequent. Protecting the integrity of the building was paramount to ensure the businesses below the installation could continue trading without risk of water ingress or leaks.SolutionAs this was such an expansive project, it was important that the roofing system was robust, easy to install and would stand the test of time. IKO worked with Paramount Roofing Systems to ensure the most suitable solution was specified for the replacement roof.A fully built-up bituminous felt warm roof was chosen as the best option, as it was designed to ensure effective insulation, weatherproofing and longevity for many years to come.To mitigate disruption to nearby trade, Paramount Roofing Systems effectively coordinated with local businesses for the duration of the project. The team established a robust schedule, so that construction activity was minimally affected by the town centre’s busy hours and zoned time restrictions.A telescopic forklift truck was hired specifically for the project, to handle offloading and loading more efficiently and allow the team to move more precisely within the confined space. Four operatives were trained to ensure that the forklift truck was used safely, which was imperative given the high footfall close to the site.IKO arranged for bulk materials to be delivered directly to the roof to help overcome the issue of restricted space. Materials were also stored off-ground and covered at all times with strategically placed tarpaulins to avoid water damage from the persistent rain.Despite the wet weather conditions hindering progress, the project was delivered just over the expected time frame of 8-10 weeks. The collaboration between IKO and Paramount Roofing Systems was pivotal in ensuring that the project met and exceeded requirements – contributing to an integral building that promises to give a much-needed boost to Kirkby town centre.

Located on the edge of Bodmin Moor is the historic Bodmin Jail, a ruinous prison transformed into an award-winning hotel.The legacy of the historic Bodmin JailLocated on the edge of Bodmin Moor is the historic Bodmin Jail. Built in the 1770s by military engineer Sir John Call and prisoners, the jail was considered a milestone in prison design and reform. Built using 20,000 tonnes of local Delank granite and stone, Bodmin Jail featured individual cells, segregated areas for male and female prisoners, hot water and light. This reformed design also included open spaces for prisoners to live and work for an income. Nearly 100 years later, the jail was declared unfit for purpose. As a result, an entirely new prison is constructed with limestone mined from the nearby moor. Evolving with the ideals of prison reform at the time, this 'total institution' featured 220 cells with separate wings for men and women, a chapel and a new area for debtors. Officially decommissioned in 1927 and sold at auction to demolition men, the jail survived attempts to blow it up, with the nearly metre-thick and formidable walls proving too challenging to deconstruct. Despite various incarnations since its closure, it wasn't till 2004 that works would begin to restore and reinvent a few areas of the jail into a historical exhibition. Rebuilding a remarkable tourist destinationIn 2015 Bodmin Jail would see its next evolution, with a £40 million investment to create a state-of-the-art attraction, four-star hotel, and restaurant within its Grade II listed facade.  The ChallengeThe project presented many challenges. Due to demolition attempts, large areas of the jail had been without a roof for nearly a century, resulting in large sections falling to ruin. With exposure to the elements, what remained was heavily saturated with water, with ivy and other biological materials spread across the remaining masonry. Further, pigeons and multiple species of bats were now occupying the former cells, hibernating behind the plaster on the walls.Technical and aesthetic considerationsKeeping the history of the building and as many original features as possible was key to the project. From a technical perspective, protecting the historic fabric while significantly improving the walls' thermal performance was imperative. To successfully convert the heavily saturated jail cells into luxury hotel rooms, the team focused on how to manage moisture efficiently. Further, the solution needed to accommodate the hustle and bustle of a busy hotel and withstand a knock or two from guests' suitcases while maintaining a sophisticated feel.Modern insulation systems had the severe risk of restricting moisture movement, which would risk damage to the historic fabric and cause mould and other moisture-related issues. In addition, organic systems, such as woodfibre and cork, would be unlikely to cope with the extremely high moisture content of the walls without the fear of interstitial condensation and rot.The solutionWorking closely with the project team, Cornerstone's Insulating Render was chosen for the jail's internal rendering. Manufactured with St. Astier Lime, recycled aggregates and additives, Insulating Render would be highly breathable and flexible whilst still providing the durability required. Additionally, as a mineral-based render, the lack of organic content meant that the render would not break down under extremely high moisture loads. The next challenge was approaching the 100,000 tonnes of render to be applied. With pressing timelines, Insulating Render would allow the team to work quickly and apply thicker, significantly reducing the application time required. Designed with lightweight features, Insulating Render could be applied directly onto the stonework and built out in depths of up to 50mm per pass and over 70mm as a total depth, with just a week between coats. The walls were either left bare or finished with Cornish Lime's CLM66 lime putty plaster for the final finish.To ensure the jail's characterful stonework received the attention and durability it deserved, a mortar sample was tested to determine the binder and aggregate type. Once the analysis was complete, a mortar was designed and developed to match the original colour found within the masonry and used extensively for internal and external re-pointing.ResultsDue to Cornerstone Insulating Render's porosity, the render began to pull water out of the background substrate, assisting the heavily saturated walls in drying. This breathability will continue to buffer relative humidity and manage the risk of condensation and mould while improving air quality. Further, the hotel will be able to provide the thermal comfort expected of a luxury four-star hotel. With its superior insulating properties, a 70mm coat achieved a U Value of 0.7, which was needed for the hotel's complex heating, ventilation and cooling systems.Since its opening, Bodmin Jail has been nominated for several awards by organisations, including The Cornwall Tourism Awards, VisitEngland, and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The Protec System was used to waterproof the domed green roof areas of this striking, sustainable house development which was featured on Chanel 4’s Grand Designs. With an ambitious vision and a tight budget, Robert and Milla Gaukroger set about transforming a dated 1980’s house overlooking Lake Windermere into a state-of-the-art, eco-conscious home. Since the house lay in beautiful hillside surroundings, in order to blend into this setting, the domed roofs of the house were to be covered with a wildflower meadow mix to provide a green roof construction.The SolutionThe Protec System was chosen as a waterproofing membrane for the roofs as it is ideally suited for green roof applications. Lightweight, flexible and highly durable, the system can easily accommodate structural expansion movements and is tough enough to resist root penetration. The Protec system was applied to over 350m2 of domed roof to provide a long-lasting waterproofing membrane.The key reasons why Eastleigh chose Protec are the same reasons that has seen it become one of the fastest growing cold-applied liquid roofing systems in both the new build and refurbishment markets. Combined with the timber cladding to the verticals of the building, the finished aesthetics of the development blended seamlessly with the surrounding areas.A warm roof build-up that can be made waterproof at multiple stages:For larger projects the Protec system can be made temporarily waterproof at two stages prior to the application of the full waterproofing system. The first stage is upon installation of the sealed, aluminium-faced vapour barrier.The second phase follows the reinforcing of the foil-faced insulation board joints with Protec resin and taping mat. This enables a much more controlled approach to the installation with a greatly reduced chance of rain causing disruption and damage during the works.Highly flexible membrane:Regardless of the size of the roof, Protec forms a homegenous membrane, without a single joint or seam and without the need for any expansion joints.RapidCure technology for quick installation:The application of Protec as a liquid, through to the curing process where a solid, tough membrane that can be walked over, takes only 30 – 60 minutes. This enables large sections of the roof to be fully completed in a short space of time.Installing the Roofing SystemsThe Protec System provided waterproofing to all flat roof areas as well as the extensive parapet wall sections. The roof areas were made up of two designs: the Protec Warm Roof System (approx 7,500m2) and Protec applied to concrete as part of an inverted roof design (approx 1,000m2).The roof installation was carried out with a planned, phased approach that was synchronised to the wider construction schedule. For the warm roof areas, the first stage was to fill the troughs of the structural metal roof deck with acoustic insulation infills that will dampen external noise within the leisure centre. Next, the crowns of the deck were primed ready to receive the self-adhesive vapour barrier.The use of a high-performance aluminium vapour barrier not only eliminates the risk of condensation within the roof, but also provides temporary waterproofing protection, which is extremely useful on larger works such as this.The Polyroof RES Insulation boards, which comprised of a two layer system totalling 170mm to achieve a U-Value of 0.14 W/m2K, were bonded using high-performance PU adhesive to the vapour barrier. Following the wind uplift calculations it was determined that mechanical fixings were not required for this application – making for an extremely rapid installation. As you can probably imagine, fixing through 170mm of insulation into the crowns of the metal deck can be a tricky and time-consuming task.A key advantage of using a tongue and groove insulation system is that the finished surface of the roof is smooth and level without any unsightly board steps that can also lead to standing water issues. The insulation board joints were sealed using Protec resin with Polymat Taping Mat 450 which, in addition to providing additional strength to the joints, also creates a temporarily waterproof layer.For the inverted roof sections, Protec was applied directly to the primed concrete/screed surface. The membrane was inspected by Polyroof Technical Services, signed off and then covered with inverted roof components. An interesting fact when using Protec in inverted roof situations is its incredible durability performance – as tested by the BBA, Protec “can provide an effective barrier to the transmission of liquid water and water vapour for the design life of the roof in which it is incorporated”.Monitoring and CompletionThroughout the duration of the contract, Polyroof Technical Services carried out regular site visits that were reported back to Interserve as part of Polyroof’s free-of-charge contract monitoring service. This enabled the client to keep up-to-date with the progress of the roof installation in detail and also provided peace of mind that the original specification was being closely followed and implemented.Polyroof worked closely with the Roofline Group during the installation, enabling the challenges were identified and solved in an efficient and coordinated manner – saving the client time and money.