King Edward’s Girl’s School

The existing roof was composed of tapered cork insulation and two layers of felt, topped with solar reflective paint. Over the years, water ingress had caused significant damage, saturating the cork insulation, which had grown to 300mm thick in some areas. This added a considerable weight load to the roof, highlighting the urgent need for refurbishment.

Access posed a significant challenge on this project. Due to the building’s location, we needed meticulous project management to ensure that all materials were onsite before work commenced. A crane was used to lift materials and waste to and from roof level, which required precise coordination. Importantly, the work had to be completed before the school year restarted, as the crane lift couldn’t be used once students returned, adding a time-sensitive layer to the project.

The project required stripping the existing roof sectionally, down to the concrete deck, which, upon inspection, was found to be in good condition. We installed a new vapour control layer, followed by Alumasc BGT PIR tapered insulation to ensure proper drainage and thermal performance. The roof was finished with Derbicoat NT underlay and the highly sustainable Derbigum Olivine Cap Sheet, which aids in reducing CO2 emissions over the roof’s lifecycle. To support future maintenance, scaffolding and free-standing guard rails were installed.

Despite the complexities, the work was completed efficiently, ensuring the roof was watertight and ready for the school’s reopening.

The project was delivered on time and with minimal disruption, providing King Edward VI High School for Girls with a safe, sustainable, and high-performance roofing solution that will last for years to come.