"rainwater goods roof drainage systems"

Project: Administration building Matterhorn Gotthard Railway, Brig, Switzerland

This concrete gutter had been problematic for many years, with water ingress causing much damage to the flats beneath. The bricks to the parapet wall were blown and parts had to be rebuilt as part of the project. The liquid gutter liner was applied to the base and all upstands to the gutter, including the brickwork, to perform a 100% leak-free, seamless gutter. Products employed: Liquasil One and Non-Sag Sealer.

Case study of Shackleton Park project. Comprising a mix of Houses, duplexes and apartments utilising the Joule Victorum EAHP.

The role of the maintenance team is critical to keep flood lighting operational at all times. Accessing flood lights for maintenance, however, is the tricky bit. Every facilities manager knows, where possible, working at height is to be avoided. This is where the flood light winch comes into its own.

The complete transformation of a North London apartment block grand entrance hall, lobby and staircase now features a sophisticated and stunning appearance with revolutionary Porcel-Thin® tiles, and Schlüter®-TREP stair nosing profiles.

Frimley Health’s £100m planned care facility at Heatherwood Hospital, a new build centre of excellence for non-emergency patients, in Ascot, Berkshire. Axis’s brief for this exciting project was to supply and install doors to the 22 day care pods, designed for privacy and efficiency that would help deliver planned care in a much-improved patient environment, built for modern needs.

The refurbishment of the dementia ward at Leighton Hospital in Crewe to deliver a softer, friendlier, more relaxed and less clinical looking environment that patients will be able to move around more easily. Axis was asked to supply and install doors to four bed bays, in different colours and with contrasting-coloured handles, to support the care and therapy the hospital gives dementia patients.

Jubilee Bridge was constructed in 1977 - chloride contamination was causing corrosion of the suspended and cantilever reinforced concrete support beams, half-joint elements and the soffits of the beamsICCP was used to protect cantilever beams, half-joints and suspended slab elements. Over 8,500 anodes were drilled in and are controlled in 20 zones with separate control of the beams and the half-joints.

Delta’s design philosophy was to devise a suitable flood resilience measure that would protect this property from the effects of future flooding, like what had previous occurred. Information gleaned from the survey visit enabled Delta to offer a fully effective solution for the intermittent yet long term flooding problem.

This project is unusual and offered an interesting scope. Delta was approached to give assistance on designing a robust waterproofing solution to a new build basement within a Synagogue in North London. The main contractor having previously worked with Delta, knew Delta would be able to provide this project with a high calibre waterproofing design whilst offering respect for the community it serves.

Hindu Temple & Community Centre, Nottingham, looked for a washroom revamp and specified Franke products for the project. Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham based fit-out company, executed the project by installing a wide range of Franke products. The three-week programme included the installation of Franke Miranit washbasins and accessories from the Rodan range. The full range of products provided was: ·       2 x ANMW431 Quadro triple washbasins ·       6 x F3SV1001 FS3 self-closing pillar taps·       9 x CHRX669  Jumbo toilet roll holders ·       5 x RODX618 RODAN soap dispensers for wall mounting ·       4 x F1390 AIRBLAST hand dryers (white) The Temple, based in the City of Nottingham, was developed in the early 1970s and has since evolved into an establishment covering a wide range of activities promoting the Hindu ethos. These activities range from Religious, Cultural, Social, Festive, Educational and Charity events to Yoga practice.Miranit washbasins are ideal for busy areas such as community centres. Miranit is a shatter-proof, resin bonded mineral granite material and provided a robust and aesthetically pleasing solution to the project. Miranit is cast in a single mold with no adhesive seams or joints and offers high stability and high durability while keeping a contemporary style.  Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented ‘‘We work with Franke regularly and can always trust them to provide us with quality products. Over the years, we have worked on many projects together, and we would consider them one of our most trusted partners. Their range Miranit composite washroom basins are excellent for various projects that we complete, and the Rodan accessories angular side profiles complement the contemporary décor of the washrooms”.

Clock View, situated in Walton, Liverpool, replaces the old Walton Hospital which once stood in its place.The £25m site will provide the city’s new psychiatric intensive care unit for urgent inpatient care.

We recently worked with Greswolde Construction and C2J Architects to manufacture and install healthcare furniture for Broadway Medical Centre, a new, two-storey medical centre, which replaces the existing surgery in the centre of Broadway, Worcestershire. The contract value was just over £55,000 and involved providing furniture throughout the new centre, in both clinical and administrative rooms.The new primary care medical centre will have five GP consulting rooms, two GP registrar rooms, two treatment and minor surgery rooms, as well as various rooms for other medical needs. A number of offices and meeting rooms will occupy the first floor. A new 65-space car park has also been included for the site which will have disabled spaces, electric car charging bays and cycle storage as well as an ambulance bay.

10 Flo-Motion® doors for new build Accident and Emergency unit and Paediatric Unit for Frimley Health NHS Foundation 

Asset management firm, BAML has signed-up to use FireDNA’s Fire Door and Doorset Monitoring Software and Mobile App.With the introduction of Regulation 10 back in January 2023 which requires the owners of buildings over 11 metres to carry out quarterly inspections on all fire doors. The FireDNA software and Mobile App allows users to undertake on-the-spot audits and inspections, capturing the data in real time; the data is then stored and managed through the FireDNA cloud.The programme is being rolled-out in 10 developments across London, managed by BAML, including Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms, Wardian London’s iconic two towers in Canary Wharf, Royal Wharf in the Royal Docks area and the Brentford town centre regeneration project adjacent to the River Brent.“We are delighted to be awarded this contract and look forward to working in partnership with BAML.” said Tony Millen, FireDNA’s Operations Director. “Across the 10 developments, our FireDNA Inspection Partners will inspect, tag and monitor 25,000 Fire Doors using our Mobile App, making the inspection process efficient and compliance easier.”(About BAML – BAML is a property management organisation providing customer-focused services to residents in more than 11,000 homes across London. This includes managing the planned maintenance, capital expenditure programmes and financial accounting and onsite services).

Built in 1855 as an Elizabethan School for local children, the historic and landmark Castle Club has also been a children’s hospital, youth club and private residence in its long history.Since being acquired by property developers Thackeray Group however, the Grade II Listed building is now to be converted and extended as a specialist care home.The work includes not only the restoration of the historic gothic structure, but also the building of a modern four-storey extension to the rear, including a 5,000-square-foot basement extension.

The scope of this project was to offer a waterproofing solution to an early 19th century two storey, listed cottage sited in a conservation area of beautiful countryside in Scotland.Providing a guaranteed, cost-effective scheme that would comply with BS 8102:2022 (Protection of below ground structures against water ingress. Code of practice.).For any structure below ground, either fully or partially, waterproofing is essential for protecting and preserving integrity. 

Soundis was contracted to supply Acoustic Chip Board 28mm Overlay.As part of a major reinvestment programme into the northern seaside town of Blackpool, the owners of the promenade theme park, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, commissioned a luxury 120-room hotel featuring a 90-seat restaurant and state-of-the-art conferencing and event facilities catering for up to 200 delegates.The product chosen for this project was a 28mm Acoustic Chipboard Overlay Product commonly used over concrete subfloors for its cost-effective solution to impact noise with minimal impact on the floor to ceiling heights of the building.

In the nursery toilet cubicles, Bushboard’s Tiny Stuff range was chosen with colours including Buttermilk, Winter and Bayleaf. The staff chose Solid Surface wash troughs in Celestial to compliment the soft colour palette.The sports building at Croydon High School was also fitted with new toilet cubicles and ezeeduct panelling. The project was completed with perimeter benching in SGL and wall mounted coat hooks.Read the whole case study on our website.

Designed to maximise the views of the glorious Yorkshire countryside and allow natural light to flood into the brand new home, the architect specified high quality Kestrel aluminium windows and doors with slim sight lines.

Patshull Activity Centre, a volunteer run Scout campsite that has played host to tens of thousands of children across the Black Country, South Staffordshire, and Shropshire since before the First World War has undergone a comprehensive renovation and redevelopment. The renovation required the replacement of the existing windows and doors for new Kestrel Aluminium units with high thermal and acoustic performance whilst maintaining the essential character of the buildings.

Stunning Scottish new buildFor the MacLeod family, the beauty of their new countryside home had to compete with that of the fabulous views overlooking the Ythan river, Bennachie and the Prop of Ythsie in the North East of Scotland. Design and build company, Cairnrowan believe in selecting premium products that not just look good but are high quality and sustainable. They selected Lindab for these reasons and due to having a good range of colours and finishes to select from.The Silver Metallic coated galvanised guttering and downpipes complement the exterior of the building which has Siberian larch cladding and seamless rendered fascades with varying height dry stone walls which come together around a 7m high gable window to create a stunning building. Cairnrowan were pleased with the products and will continue to use them on other projects, manager Kate Davidson said, “they look fabulous, high quality, complementing the build” and more importantly the MacLeod’s are very happy with the end result, stating, “The eye for detail and quality in Cairnrowan work is excellent” Stunning Scottish new buildFor the MacLeod family, the beauty of their new countryside home had to compete with that of the fabulous views overlooking the Ythan river, Bennachie and the Prop of Ythsie in the North East of Scotland. Design and build company, Cairnrowan believe in selecting premium products that not just look good but are high quality and sustainable. They selected Lindab for these reasons and due to having a good range of colours and finishes to select from.The Silver Metallic coated galvanised guttering and downpipes complement the exterior of the building which has Siberian larch cladding and seamless rendered fascades with varying height dry stone walls which come together around a 7m high gable window to create a stunning building. Cairnrowan were pleased with the products and will continue to use them on other projects, manager Kate Davidson said, “they look fabulous, high quality, complementing the build” and more importantly the MacLeod’s are very happy with the end result, stating, “The eye for detail and quality in Cairnrowan work is excellent” 

Some 92,000 Cwt Y Bugail slates feature on a ground-breaking new/old roof. Formerly a seedy area worth avoiding, London’s Kings Cross has now been transformed into a go-to destination for office workers, students and tourists. Developer Argent’s regeneration of the area has sensitively re-purposed the early Victorian railway buildings into variously, a college campus, supermarket and offices, in which the interior changes are radical but the exteriors have been left largely unaltered. Not so for Coal Drops Yard, a pair of elongated Victorian coal warehouses originally built to distribute coal from the North of England across London. Here, the pitched roofs of two almost-parallel buildings, 150m and 100m in length and 39m apart, have been reconfigured to curve up at their northern ends and gently kiss each other. Designed by Heatherwick Studio, the roofs peel upwards and extend into the middle of the space between the two buildings. A new floorplate sits below the roof structure, with glazing filling the gap between the two, creating a third level of retail. The new roofs of the ornate cast-iron and brick structures have been slated with 92,000 new versions of the original Welsh Slates – 500mm x 250mm Cwt Y Bugails from the manufacturer’s Llan Ffestiniog quarry in North Wales – by Banbury-based specialist sub-contractor Attleys Roofing. Attleys already had some Kings Cross experience, using 6,400 500mm x 300mm Heather Blues from Welsh Slate’s main Penrhyn quarry for the re-roof of the nearby German Gymnasium - the first purpose-built gym in England - which is now enjoying a new lease of life as a designer restaurant. Coal Drops Yard was a whole new ball game, testing Attleys to the limit, but the result is an extraordinary reinterpretation of the canal-side site. Main contractor BAM Construction was responsible for the structure of the new roofline. More than 50 new steel columns were carefully threaded through the existing structure to support the roof independently of the building, a point cloud survey being carried out to help calculate where to put the columns without clashing with the existing building fabric. Primary support is provided by a set of large cranked beams supported on cores in each building which join in the middle over the yard. There are four primary beams, two on each building. These dip down towards the centre to create the valley between the two roof structures and have been nicknamed “giraffe beams” in reference to their angled neck and head - the structure looks like two giraffes rubbing noses together. Tie beams at floor level take the tensile loads generated by the weight of the roof. The giraffe beams support two ribbon trusses that define the upper and lower edge of each roof structure and connect in the middle over the yard at the lower edge. These are 7m deep in the middle and taper to 5m at the ends where these join the existing roof. Tubular steel sections were used to create the trusses because of the complex geometry. The new floorplate below the roof is suspended from above using macalloy bars and is tapered towards the perimeter to minimise the impact on the view. More than 60 panels of full-height structural glazing between the floor and new roof are stepped rather than curved or faceted for aesthetic reasons and has the added benefit of hiding the macalloy bars. Temporary trusses were erected to support the giraffe beam assembly and ribbon trusses during construction. The giraffe beam assembly was erected first. The ribbon trusses were brought to site as components, bolted together on the ground into fully-assembled sections complete with rafters, craned into position and bolted together where they meet in the middle. The whole roof structure was then de-propped. Visually, it was important to maintain a seamless transition from the existing roof to the new section so the original timber roof trusses were retained where possible, with some localised strengthening required where the timber had been damaged. The gap between the existing and new roof structure was then boarded over ready for the new Welsh slates.The two roofs are bolted together where they meet in the middle. Heatherwick Studio chose to position the new roof element at the northern ends of the two buildings as the eastern building had been devastated by a fire in 1985. Used more recently for warehousing and nightclubs, they were largely abandoned in the 1990s. Group leader Lisa Finlay said: “Our challenge was to radically remodel this Victorian infrastructure to meet the needs of a modern urban development without losing what made them special. To do this, we focused on understanding their original function and how they were adapted over time so we could appreciate how best to preserve and reuse the existing fabric, whilst also introducing new elements. One of which is an entirely free-standing new structure threaded through the historic buildings, from which a spectacular new third level is suspended.”  Attleys were on site for a total of almost 18 months. The roof pitch of the original sections of roof was 28° but as the curves swept around and met in the middle this changed to 47°. Thereafter the length also decreased from 8.4m to 6.9m at the kissing point where the two curved roofs met but the same number of courses of slates (44) had to be maintained. This meant Attleys had to decrease the gauges and not only cut the sides of the slates to take them around the curve but also the tops of the slates to maintain the same number of courses. No clever nailing or hidden bibbing was required to stop rainwater flowing diagonally at this point as the pitch was so steep. Attleys’ managing director Shaun Attley met with Heatherwick Studio and BAM’s design team up to two years prior to commencement on site to discuss the design issues and how to achieve the aesthetics requested while using the products selected.  Shaun advised the project team that the Cwt Y Bugail slates could not be used for their initial roof design which exceeded a 90° pitch so it was re-designed to ensure that where the eaves met it was at a pitch commensurate with Welsh Slate’s fixing recommendations and warranties. Due to space being at a premium, all the Cwt Y Bugail slates were cut off-site at Attleys’ depot in Banbury. To do this, Attleys had to calculate how much of the slates needed cutting off. This was done by taking measurements from the steel work underneath - from steel to steel at the eaves and steel to steel at the ridge which was generally over 10-15m depending where you were on the curve (on the internal curve or external curve). The kissing point determined how the slates were cut to ensure the perp lines and side laps were maintained.  And because the roof pitch was increasing while the rafter length was decreasing, Attleys also had to cut the tops of the slates down so they suited the decreasing gauges. A total of 32,000 of the 90,000 slates used on the project had to be cut with hand guillotines so the dressed edge could be maintained around the curve which comprised 1,600m2 of the total 4,600m2. Shaun Attley said: “Our timescale for the sections of roof was provided to BAM Construction and this was put into their overall programme with all other sub-contractors but unfortunately our commencement on site was delayed due to previous issues in the construction of the steel frame prior to us starting.  “This meant we were up against the clock in trying to pull back time to ensure the overall programme was still met and we were asked by BAM to find ways of doing as much as possible off-site and increasing labour and production on-site to pull back the time lost. By working together with other sub-contractors and the main contractor we managed to finish a week earlier than our anticipated 43-week overall programme.” He added: “The project was challenging at the beginning to ensure we set the roof out properly but as the contract progressed it became easier. Welsh slates are easy to work, and we work with them all the time, but in this case it was challenging getting the slates to course all the way round. Attleys’ SMSTS-trained supervisor ran the day-to-day safety, conducting Toolbox talks every morning and attending daily safety briefings by BAM Construction staff and supervisors from all trades on site to brief each other of any risks and ensure trades were not disrupting one another.  The team of 10 Attleys operatives, which included two NVQ Level 2 apprentices, carried out daily visual inspections of tools and all power tools were PAT tested every three months. Shaun Attley visited weekly to inspect the job for workmanship and production and also to gather feedback on any safety issues or to see if any safety measures could be instigated to improve the overall safety for their and other operatives on site. “We found some of these measures not only improved safety but also helped improve production,” said Shaun. Attleys also had an independent safety inspector (from The Health & Safety People) visit site monthly to see if there were any safety improvements they could recommend. Far from handling eight million tonnes of coal a year, Coal Drops Yard is now forecast to pull in 12 million visitors a year.

In a stunning architectural statement, CUPA PIZARRAS R17 slate has been specified to meet the design challenges of a former Georgian windmill renovation at Fort Green, near Aldeburgh in Suffolk. The first project of its kind in the UK, the natural slate was individually cut and fixed through expert craftsmanship to accommodate the building’s exterior curve while also providing crucial protection from the harsh coastal environment. Originally, the windmill walls were going to be clad in cedar shingles however, contractor ELC Roofing recommended using the rectangular CUPA R17 slate from CUPA PIZARRAS as a more weather-resistant alternative. ELC Roofing Owner, Edward Carlo, explains: “The R17 is a natural, non-carbonated blue-black slate with non-rusting metallic particles and thin laminations. From our perspective, it’s a tried and tested product that we specify and install on a lot of our projects – especially in coastal situations like this.” The slates, which protect against the salt water and wind, have been fitted on both the windmill’s curved wall, its pitched roof and elsewhere adding design details to the property’s walls. He goes on to say: “Aesthetically, the ocean environment has inspired the material choice with the slate mirroring the scales of a fish. This gives the windmill a dramatic architectural style; one that also sympathetically ties into the slate roof of the neighbouring cottage, which we replaced with CUPA R17 the previous year. “As far as I am aware, nothing like this windmill has been done in the UK. It was a case of starting from scratch to devise the optimum installation method, which involved a lot of detailed calculations.” For the tower, which has a 15m circumference at the base tapering to 11m at the top, the team initially removed the thick render on the windmill wall, taking it back to the original brickwork. Next, to meet the challenge of the curve and tapering of the wall, 50mm counter battens were fitted to the tower’s brickwork. Then, multiple strips of ply were cut and glued together to create the curve. These panels were screwed to the counter battens to provide an anchor for the fixing system. The ply was also primed to protect the surface from water ingress and a breathable membrane applied to protect the brickwork. In terms of fixing the slates to the panels, Edward said: “For a more corrosion and wind-resistant solution, I decided on the French technique of a stainless steel hook fixing system to install the slate, as opposed to nails.” Ensuring the layout worked exactly with the curves, the slate was lasered from top to bottom to perk it out, which took five days to do. Horizontal tiling battens were also marked to ensure the slates were fixed at the right height. Every single slate was cut and fixed individually to accommodate the curve and ensure they aligned with the building’s inset windows as well as other architectural details - a very precise process that required expert levels of craftsmanship. Preventing the slates from getting smaller at height, the team designed-in a series of lead bands that go all around the building at each storey level. These sit underneath the windows to create a consistent appearance visually. The windmill’s domed copper roof existed already and the adjoining tower, which is horizontally clad in a white weatherboard, features a slated pitched roof. ELC Roofing has again used CUPA PIZARRAS spanish slates. In this instance, the roof curves to the back end with four leaded hips to one end and two to the other with a connecting lead ridge. This time the slates were fitted to 20 x 50mm battens with a layer of permeable membrane. This part of the roof also features a striking onion-shaped finial. Expertly crafted by ELC Roofing, the finial is produced out of a patchwork of small pieces of soft copper, topped off with a fish that acts as a weather vane and includes stunning marble eyes. To the other side of the clad tower, CUPA PIZARRAS slate has been used to create a vertical square panel detail to the front of the building and fixed using the hook system again. Commenting on this challenging project, Edward said: “Work on site started before the first Covid-19 lockdown so as well as the challenging weather conditions that a coastal location like this presents, the team also had to complete the work with government guidance and restrictions in place. Regardless, the client is overwhelmed with the end result and so are we.” To find out more about the CUPA PIZARRAS range of natural slate visit: https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/natural-slate-roofing/

Whilst good design is about creating a balance between aesthetics and functionality, great design evokes emotions. Historic architecture and interior design represent a place in time that people connect with; a historic building has charm whilst modern designs have the ability to inspire.

In this case study, we explore a recent resin bound gravel driveway installation project completed using PermaBound materials. Discover how this project aimed to enhance both the aesthetics and functionality of a property's driveway, offering durability and low-maintenance benefits.The homeowner desired a modern, attractive, and SuDs-compliant surface to replace their worn-out driveway. After careful consideration, they chose a resin bound gravel driveway using an Ocean Grey blend. The goal was to create a durable solution that would elevate the property's curb appeal.The project commenced with thorough surface preparation, including the removal of the existing driveway. A permeable tarmac surface was laid, providing a clean and level base for the resin bound application. A porous sub-base was established to ensure effective water drainage.Following best practices, the team marked out 37 bays of approximately 3.6m² in which they would lay each of their mixes. Using high-quality PermaBound UVR+ resin binder and a unique Ocean Grey aggregate blend, the installers produced their mixes in a forced action mixer. The resin and aggregate mixture were carefully spread using a spazzle before being hand-troweled onto the prepared surface by seasoned professionals, creating a seamless and smooth finish.The completed Ocean Grey resin bound gravel driveway instantly transformed the property's appearance. The cool grey tones of the aggregate harmonised with the surrounding architecture, delivering a contemporary and inviting entrance. The surface's smooth finish added sophistication, while its permeability enabled efficient drainage, reducing the risk of localised surface flooding.Additionally, the driveway's low-maintenance nature proved beneficial. Debris can be easily swept away, and occasional power washing will restore its pristine appearance. Thanks to the durable resin bound system, the driveway can withstand the weight of vehicles without compromising its integrity, ensuring long-lasting beauty and functionality.This case study highlights the remarkable transformation achieved through the installation of a resin bound gravel driveway. With its durability, aesthetic appeal, and low-maintenance features, this surface offers an excellent solution for enhancing both the look and practicality of driveways.Contact us today to learn more about our range of resin bound gravel products and other surfacing solutions for your upcoming projects.

The completion of a stunning new Hilton hotel at Silverstone is another step nearer and leads the way featuring the superior high-performance Wraptite external airtightness barrier.The impressive new hotel, located trackside, overlooks the starting grid for the home of the iconic British Grand Prix. Facilities include 197 guest rooms, a rooftop terrace and the offer of race-day hospitality experiences.KKA Architecture designed the hotel, with Metclad Contracts appointed as the specialist envelope contractor for the project.Wraptite airtightness membrane from the A. Proctor Group, specialists in supplying high-performance products to protect buildings, was selected by Metclad to maximise airtightness and energy efficiency, perfectly balanced with the crucial requirements of vapour permeabilityWraptite self-adhesive breather membrane is applied externally, quickly and efficiently as part of the rainscreen system. Incorporating the Wraptite System helps ensure “as-designed” performance. Its inclusion narrows the gap between asdesigned and actual energy performance whilst reducing the likelihood of possible failures to meet required airtightness levels.Traditionally air barriers have been fitted internally. The internal installation of an air barrier necessitates accommodating building services such as electrical, lighting, heating and drainage systems, thereby increasing the gap between as designed and built. However, the Wraptite membrane fully bonds externally to virtually any substrate, requiring no additional mechanical attachment, seals or tapes to suppress air leakage around junctions or penetrations.The high vapour permeability of Wraptite allows the substrate beneath to dry quickly and moisture vapour to escape and reduces the likelihood of mould, mildew, condensation, timber distortion and metal corrosion.Wraptite is the only self-adhering vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA and combines the critical properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one self-adhering membrane. Quite simply, providing a winning performance in advanced membrane technology for buildings.

Wilmcote House is located in Portsmouth which had undergone a major renovation to benefit the health and well-being of tenants.A high-rise, high-density housing estate that remains a prominent feature of Britain's urban landscape dating from the 1960's.Wilmcote House used a combination of several products and systems namely ROCKWOOL external wall and flat roof insulation together with a selection of the company's firestopping and fire protection products.

South Lodge is an award-winning luxury hotel in Sussex with breath-taking views of the South Downs. The client intended for the new spa building to blend in with the surrounding parkland. Bauder achieved this by specifying a wildflower, biodiverse roof. This consisted of a substrate-based system with Bauder WB native wildflower blanket. The blanket is a mix of British native plants which mirror the surrounding meadows, providing valuable ecological habitats for a mixture of wildlife.

Roof with a message... CHALLENGEFor the renovation of the arena Antwerp Sports Palace the architect wanted to design a roof that gave a message. From the air people should see an “A” appearing. This A would be the A of the county Antwerp and not the A from the city Antwerp. Also with the possibility to have (solar) energy production installed on the roof. SOLUTION Six new colours within the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing range were developed specially for this prestigious project. The existing green coloured synthetic roof was used as substructure. The whole roof received extra insulation (thermal and acoustic) and the new RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing membranes were mechanically fastened following an installation plan. All the membranes for the Antwerp Sports Palace not only had a special colour but also a special finish with an invisible protective coating. All membranes have excellent fire resistance for roofs with a higher slope. On the south side of the roof amorphous solar panels were installed upon the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing membranes. 

Product:Surespan manufactured this SAC Aluminium, single leaf, flush floor access cover to fit a structural opening 1000 x 1000mm. The access cover comes complete with gas spring assisted, Aluminium chequer plate lid which locks in the open position with a safety hold open stay to prevent against accidental closure. Should any water pass the seals, it will be dispersed via an integral drainage channel. The lid is held shut by a heavy-duty Grade 316 Stainless Steel ‘slam action’ cab lock and can open from both sides with the use of a removable ‘Tee’ key., for safety. Finished Self-colour Aluminium.

Client: Matthew AlgieLocation: Glasgow, Scotland, UKYear: 2023Project size: 300 m²Vebro systems: vebrocrete MFA high performance PU concrete flooring system was required to deliver a hygienic, durable, easy-to-clean flooring solution for a Glasgow-based coffee roastery.Matthew Algie, established in 1864, began life selling its own blend of tea to wholesale customers across Glasgow, before beginning coffee production after the second world war.Today, the Scottish company supplies its famous coffee blends as well as other peripheral goods and equipment to cafés, restaurants and hotels throughout the UK and beyond.Matthew Algie’s award-winning Glasgow roastery is in the heart of the city and close to the banks of the River Clyde.The slab in the facility’s production facility was in need of some attention, requiring mechanical preparation and exposed repairs before being overcoated.vebrocrete MF was chosen to transform the 300 m2 area. vebrocrete MF is a HACCP International certified medium duty, easily-applied, polyurethane concrete screed offering excellent chemical and wear resistance.vebrocrete MF is best suited to use in dry and semi-wet food processing and preparation areas subject to moderate temperature swings, chemical spillage and medium duty traffic.The system, which is resistant to temperatures up to 70ºC, also provides excellent cleanability and features a seamless hygienic finish.The food-safe, solvent-free, odourless, non-tainting and non-dusting system complies with HACCP food safety management guidelines.

Across London, Dolphin Living, a charitable housing association, has created affordable and sustainable accommodation for the capital’s key workers. Chosen for their desirable locations near good transport links, well-designed apartments have been developed to offer comfortable and convenient homes with a sense of community.

Willow Crescent in Normanton consists of forty seven post-war Cornish Units, each of which was designed to offer temporary housing after World War II and a life expectancy of around fifteen to twenty years.Wakefield and District Housing Association manage the homes at Willow Crescent and invested in a renovation program to boost the standards of each homeThe ideal material for the roofing and mansards needed to look traditional and keep the look and feel of the units and despite the refresh, each unit needed to blend in with the surroundings yet maintain the unique look that Cornish Units are known forMetrotile Lightweight Steel Roofing Systems were specified for the replacement of both the rooftops and mansards, offering each home the many benefits that Metrotile is known for and the low weight of each profile places less strain on both the supporting frame of the homes and the foundations.

As one of the fastest growing towns in Wales, Newport is undergoing a comprehensive programme of regeneration, of which Friars Walk is a central part.Friars Walk has reshaped the landscape of Newport with retail sales expected to double in the city, adding £120 million per annum and the city’s catchment predicted to increase from 211,000 to 367,000 with an estimated footfall of 10-12 million per annum.The 390,000 sq ft centre features a 90,000 sq ft Debenhams Department Store as well as other retail anchors H&M and Next. The leisure offer includes an eight screen Cineworld multiplex cinema, a Superbowl UK with 12 State of the art lanes and numerous riverside restaurants.Shield Membranes supplied the full ShieldTEC hotmelt system to be used on all roof areas, along with our own ShieldBOARD XPS and ShieldDIVERSE living roof build up.

Installer – County RoofingMain Contractor – Barnwood ConstructionArchitect – Scott BrownriggClient – Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience InternationalSystem – Vantage® SF (Secret Fix)Showcasing our premium CWCT tested Vantage® SF (Secret Fix) in 3mm aluminium powder coated to Ral 7016 anthraciteThe project received many accolades and awardsCABI HQ shortlisted for AJ Architecture AwardConstructing Excellence SECBE 2021 Awards - WinnerOxPropFest 2021 - WinnerUK Roofing Awards 2021 - FinalistArchDaily Building of the Year 2021 - NominatedSECBE People's Choice Award 2021 - NominatedFuture Cities Forum Awards - Highly CommendedAJ Architecture Awards - ShortlistedWe feel very humbled to be associated with such a fantastic project and a big well done to all involved