This time of year can be the busiest for maintenance staff, dealing with issues of repairs needed to buildings as a result of adverse winter weather conditions. Maintaining a leak-free exterior to a building is really important, due to the damage and inconvenience that water ingress can cause. It is often after a winter storm like the UK had in November, with Storm Angus, that flat roofs can get damaged – either by roof tiles or other falling debris.
The question that often faces facilities and maintenance managers is – Should a flat roof be repaired or replaced? There is often a reluctance to completely replace a flat roof as the perception is that this will be costly, inconvenient and may mean the building will be effectively ‘out of bounds’ for some time until the work is completed.
Fully operational during replacement
However, with the innovative new GRP system Topseal Direct Lay, the issue of inconvenience is taken away as the new roof can simply be laid over an existing flat roof. This means that the building can remain fully operational throughout the project and there is minimal inconvenience to the building’s occupants. It is particularly important if the building is required for use by members of the public – for example, health and leisure facilities often have flat roofs, as do schools and local authority buildings.
So, when thinking about whether to repair or replace a flat roof, there are a number of considerations to make. Firstly, maintenance managers need to carry out a survey of the roof condition, this includes looking at any damage to the surface covering, such as holes, tears and worn areas. It is often not the oldest flat roofs that can have the most problems. If a flat roof has not been installed properly, or has had a lot of foot traffic, it can dramatically reduce the life expectancy of the waterproof covering. Surveying the condition of the roof will allow you to evaluate whether the damage can be easily and inexpensively repaired and whether by carrying out the repair this will provide a long term solution to the problem – rather than a temporary fix.
Secondly, maintenance managers should look at the cost of carrying out the repair and not just in terms of materials. If the work is being carried out by your own maintenance team other factors to consider include investing in the correct PPE for work at height and having appropriate fall protection equipment to reduce risks of any accidents. Carrying out such repairs can be time consuming and this means that the maintenance team would not be available to respond to other requirements.
Cost and labour saving
Thirdly, you need to consider the cost and labour savings of having the roof completely replaced. With traditional roof replacement, this would have involved the inconvenience of having the building effectively put ‘out of action’ for a couple of weeks whilst the old roof was removed safely and the new roof installed. As mentioned, with Topseal Direct Lay, there is no reason for the building to be out of action whilst the work is carried out.
Another issue that a facilities manager or building owner may have is the difficulty in finding a reputable roofing contractor or company that is fully trained and competent in fitting the roof to the required standard. This is particularly important as with flat roofs, many of the issues come about as a direct result of poor installation. For anyone who chooses Topseal Direct Lay, we have a network of fully trained, approved roofing contractors who carry out the work to an exceedingly high standard – and their workmanship and performance comes with a 20 year guarantee.
Whilst considering the practical aspects of getting a roof installed, it is also worth factoring into any cost saving calculation how much labour time and materials expenditure would be saved by having a replacement roof installed. Maintenance teams, particularly for local authorities, report that roof repair is one of the major cost and time burdens, especially during the winter months, resulting in constant call-outs, even after repairs have been carried out. This can easily run into thousands of pounds of lost time and expense every year – and that’s just for one flat roof.
Facilities managers are increasingly seeking a more convenient, long term solution that reduces the burden on their maintenance team. Here at Topseal we have supplied complete roof refurbishment solutions for over 20 years and have extensive experience in working both on domestic and commercial properties, from blocks of flats to community buildings, offices and leisure centres. We provide a free no-obligation quotation for your flat roof – simply call a member of our technical team on 08000 831 094 or visit the website www.topsealdirectlay.co.uk