The success of the Girdlestone Estate refurbishment project was recognised at the 2018 Roofing Awards, when it won the Reinforced Bitumen Membranes category. The housing estate had suffered from water ingress issues, which were successfully resolved by Langley’s design and specification, and installed by Opus Waterproofing Solutions Ltd, a Langley Approved Contractor.

In order to make an informed decision about the type of roofing system that should be installed, Langley, along with Opus Waterproofing Solutions, conducted a full assessment of the existing roof. The team removed a section of the roof to inspect its state and decipher the best way of approaching the project. They discovered that the mineral wool insulation within the old system was completely saturated and needed to be replaced.

Langley’s TA-20 - a premium high-performance torch applied SBS elastomeric membrane for warm roofs – was the chosen solution. Due to the water damage found on the original roof, the new system had to be carefully considered to ensure that no further issues would ensue. The TA-20, which is part of the Langley Parafor range, is durable, yet flexible and the heavy-duty polyester composite metal lined vapour barrier provides a robust, watertight layer, preventing water damage and any leaks to the below structure, whilst the works are ongoing.

The system’s 40 year life expectancy was a key consideration in the decision for TA-20, along with its certifications; the membranes used for TA-20 are covered by MOAT 31, the assessment for Reinforced Homogeneous Waterproof Coverings of SBS Elastomer Bitumen, and the Parafor Solo Cap Sheet, which is the outer layer of the TA-20 system, achieves a “resistance to damage” rating of R4 under MOAT 31.

The system also carries a 20 year independently insured guarantee for both materials, design and workmanship. After the many years of issues, it was vital that the chosen roof for Gridlestone Estate could provide a long-term solution, to ensure that residents did not experience any further disruption.

Langley used the initial block to gain calculations for the tapered insulation, roof lights and outlets. The team could then create these elements for the remaining 19 blocks ahead of time. This ensured that the construction team could remove the existing metal butterfly roof and instantly replace it with the new TA-20 system, without the need for a temporary solution.

The team also utilised a rolling programme, which enabled communication between the client and contractor. This was vital for the success of the build and allowed for the original roof to be inspected on the day that it was being replaced. The team was then able to adjust without causing major disruption to timescales.

Gary Chapman, Group Leader, Capital Programme Delivery at Islington Council, said: “The Girdlestone Estate has been a priority for the council and we knew that Langley – working with our service provider Mears - could be trusted to work closely with our technical team to carry out an extensive survey to reveal the underlying issues with the roof.”

David Hodgson, Executive Managing Director at Mears Group, added: “With such a challenging project, Langley’s support throughout the refurbishment was invaluable and the solution they provided will ensure that the estate’s roofs are protected from any future problems.”