The Challenge

The main challenges of the Burbage Surgery project lay in its complex, changeable nature and time-sensitive programme requirements.

With some elements of the design and information missing prior to arriving on site – a natural and sometimes unavoidable aspect of construction projects of this type – the Rock Roofing team was required to work both proactively and reactively to fill in the gaps and respond to the changing requirements presented by mid-build design changes.

Another significant challenge was posed by access restrictions to a large section of the roof while other trades completed their works. This required us to adjust our working procedures to work efficiently around the other teams, switching between tasks when required. While this isn’t typically the ideal way of working, we were able to amend our approach as we went along and turn it to our advantage, ultimately maximising project efficiency without charging any additional downtime.

Last but not least, due to some areas of the roof sections being visible from the ground, this project had a clear requirement for a high-quality aesthetic finish – something that the Rock Roofing team prides itself on delivering, no matter what the challenge.

The Approach

Thinking on our feet is something that comes naturally to the Rock Roofing team, so from the moment we arrived on site we began reassessing the new situation and drawing up a fresh strategy to tackle the various challenging aspects.

Starting with the design aspects, the surgery’s guttering was one of the key features that needed to be factored into our new plans. The guttering material was initially specified as aluminium, however, with the sensitive waterproofing requirements that now needed to be factored in, we identified an opportunity to make some cost-saving adjustments that would also provide a much higher level of quality. By value-engineering an alternative fully-welded membrane guttering design, we were able to deliver a more cost-effective solution that could be included in the roofing guarantee, therefore reducing risk for the client, while also eliminating the need for using mastic sealant, a common cause of leaking associated with aluminium gutters.

For the sloping roof section that would be visible from the ground, we specified a high-aesthetic solution that wouldn’t break the budget. A traditional approach for this type of visible roof section would be to install aluminium standing seam roofing, which creates a smart and aesthetically-pleasing effect – the only downside is the high level of cost.

As an alternative, we installed a lightweight, high-quality membrane roof system with imitation standing seam profile strips. This provided the same level of robust waterproofing, quality and visual aesthetics you would expect from the aluminium installation, while making a significant time and cost saving for the project. Finally, to further aid the timely completion of the roofing project, we also installed rooflights bespoke to size and provided all the electrical equipment ready for the arrival of the electrical contractors.

The Results

Despite the challenging nature of this project, the Rock Roofing team successfully delivered a high-quality, aesthetically-pleasing installation with value-added features and significant programme savings. The project was completed to a high standard as a result of our ability to work seamlessly with other subcontractors, integrate our own work with other interfaces and dynamically adjust our strategies and designs to suit the changing needs of the programme.

Here’s what our client, Pure Construction, had to say about working with us on the Burbage Surgery project:

“The roof at Burbage Surgery was quite complex with elements of flat and sloping single ply. Working with Rock Roofing enabled us to use their knowledge of the specified materials to develop the Architect’s initial design into an efficient and “buildable” element of the works.

Having Rock Roofing as part of the construction team enabled us to work together to design out potential problems when transitioning between the various roof elements and overcome issues resulting from mid-build design changes. The aesthetics of the roof coverings also had to be considered as the low level sloping areas of the roof are on view. The standing seams here were high quality, producing a neat and aesthetically pleasing end product.”

Do you have a complex project with high-aesthetic criteria?

We’ve got the expertise and creativity to deliver attractive results with a focus on both quality and cost-effectiveness. Get in touch via our contact page and tell us what you need; we’ll do the rest.