Hardwick Grange
Warrington
The Client
Distribution centres and warehouses provide a vital cog for supply chains throughout the UK. When Hollis Global, a leading independent commercial real estate consultant, acting on behalf of Age UK, asked for our expertise, we were delighted to support. Age UK is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life, with a network of around 450 shops. The request was for us to provide a technical diagnostic survey, and to advise on materials, installation and project management.
The Project
The client was interested in coating the roof and gutters with a high-performance coating, which offered a 10-year warranty. The property was over 40 years old, and consisted of a large warehouse and offices, with the roof area around 3800 m2, including approximately 10% rooflights.
The roof construction was a steel portal frame with industrial-grade plasterboard liner panels, minimal fibre quilt insulation and asbestos cement roof cladding. The gutters were cast iron with internal downpipes, which were undersized for today’s weather conditions.
- Less cost
- Non-fragile roof solution
- Increased gutter sizes to meet today’s requirements
- Increased insulation to comply with current building regulations
- Increased warranty from 10 years to 25 years
- Sacrificial netting utilised to reduce impact on the tenants
- Rooflights replaced which increased daylight within the building
£270,000
Value
8 Weeks
Duration
3,700 m2
Area
Challenges and Solutions
Following our technical survey, including loading calculations and U-value and gutter calculations, we presented the client with costs for their suggested coating system. However, based on our survey findings we also proposed an overclad option.
Our overclad system proposal offered many new advantages for the client, including increased gutter sizes to meet today’s requirements, and a 25-year warranty instead of the original 10 years. It also included replacement of the rooflights, which would increase daylight within the building. Our client additionally had the advantage of a lower cost outlay for the project.
Outcome
Although there were several challenges, we delivered a safe and sustainable project outcome. The roof was in a very fragile condition, which had a high parapet wall to all four elevations. However, we managed to deliver all works while the client’s operations continued, by using sacrificial netting. We overlaid the gutters and installed additional internal downpipes, providing a sustainable solution to tackle the harsh UK weather. We also increased insulation to comply with current building regulations. Starfish Construction has an exemplary safety record, and the project was completed two weeks ahead of programme with no incidents.
