Over-Cladding Asbestos Roofs: Transforming a Glasgow Recycling Plant with Over-Cladding
Industrial Roofing Scotland recently completed an approximate 2500m2 over-cladding asbestos roof project in the heart of Glasgow. The client, a paper recycling plant were looking to update their deteriorating roof with a cost-effective solution which would improve the durability of the building envelope and protect the building for future use.
Image: The before and after from our Over-Cladding Asbestos Roof project in Glasgow.
Introduction
The client’s biggest concern was water ingress due to cracked roof sheets and perished rooflights, which allowed water to seep inside the building framework. Indeed, the entire building envelope was showing signs of failure, despite the building being structurally sound.
In situations like this, over-cladding asbestos roofs or asbestos roof replacement tends to be the most popular options. Over-cladding an asbestos roof provides a more cost-effective solution than full roof replacements – particularly when you consider the time and resources required to remove and then replace an entire roof. Removing roofs entirely also might showcase some underlying structural issues that need to be remedied before a new roof is installed – adding unexpected costs to the overall project.
Project Overview
The condition of the asbestos cement sheets were beyond repair with clear signs of daylight penetrating inside the building via numerous cracks and holes. The old fibre cement gutters where also past their best, leading the client to opt for the installation of trimline gutters on the exterior of the building. Some remedial brickworks on the exterior of the building would be required to seat the trimline gutters in the correct position.
Our client opted for the over-cladding option, as on-site operations had to remain active. The busy paper processing site was a hive of activity throughout the project with lorries aplenty coming and going on regular schedules. Careful planning around the erection of scaffolding, materials deliveries and roof loading would have to be factored into the site’s traffic management plan. Proximity to railway lines and overhead cabling would also be strong factors in the positioning and location of crane lifts to align with timetables on site.
Challenges & Solutions
The site remained fully operational throughout the 4 week installation, requiring careful coordination with the recycling schedule. Care and attention of health and safety protocols was of upmost concern for the client. Our ISO45001 Health and Safety Certification was a standout factor in allowing Industrial Roofing Scotland to operate within the heightened HSE requirements on site.
Over-cladding provides clients the best opportunity to remain operational whilst roofing works are on-going. Over-cladding is less intrusive than replacement, when it comes to operational effectiveness. We’ve completed lots of these types of works over the country, in different sectors with clients able to run their business operations whilst their roof is being refurbished. Internal and sacrificial safety netting allows operations to continue inside the building whilst protecting installers on the roof.
Over-Cladding Asbestos Process
Over-cladding Asbestos Roofs provide several key benefits, not least improving the overall weather resistance of the building. But there are also noticeable benefits on the sustainability side as well. Over-cladding provides an opportunity to improve the thermal efficiency of a building, with insulation added between the existing roof and new roof providing increased R-Values. Essentially, improving the ability of the roof to retain warmth in the winter and resist heat in the summer.
Interestingly for this client, there was no requirement for heating inside the building. However, by opting to add insulation during the over-cladding process, if the client was to repurpose this building into a heated space in the future, the roof would already be of a standard to accommodate the shift in purpose more effectively. Therefore, from a building ownership perspective, over-cladding opens additional usages for the building beyond its current guise.
An integral part of any roof refurbishment project is also the replacing or refurbishment of rooflights, especially if they are beyond repair. We typically replace any existing rooflights on a building, as well as install new rooflights to the exterior. Replacing both can have their own benefits in terms of natural daylight entering a building and improving energy efficiency – another positive side-benefit of the over-cladding process.
Results & Benefits of Over-Cladding Asbestos
From experience, when our clients’ roofs reach the point of failure, ongoing maintenance costs become a key factor in the decision-making process. ‘Fix-on-fail’ strategies work to a point, but when the frequency of repairs becomes uneconomical, over-cladding is often the best solution. An over-cladded roof not only eliminates the need for continual remedial repairs—saving money in the short term—but also provides a long-term warranty, helping to reduce the impact of any capital investments over a prolonged period.
Conclusion & Call to Action
Over-cladding Asbestos roofs provides a cost-effective solution to revitalise ageing fibre cement roofs, whilst enhancing weather protection and safeguarding your most valuable assets for years to come. If you have a commercial property and are experiencing similar challenges as highlighted below, then over-cladding may be an ideal solution for you.
– Roof constructed with Asbestos Fibre/Cement Sheets – Cracked or damaged roof sheets – Deteriorating skylights/rooflights – Corroded gutters and Weathered flashings – Persistent Leaks and Water IngressIdentifying whether your roof is made of asbestos can be tricky, but there are are some helpful guides available on the HSE website that can help you to understand where asbestos type materials may have been used in the construction of your buildings. Here’s some specific material on asbestos cement products used in roofing. Find out more here.
Get in touch with Industrial Roofing Scotland
If you’d like to discuss how Industrial Roofing Scotland could remedy persistent leaks on your buildings, then get in touch to find out more about over-cladding asbestos roofs and our roof refurbishment services.
Call the team direct on 01592 372573 or fill in our contact form online with a brief synopsis of the challenges you are currently facing and one of team will be in touch to discuss how we can assist.