We’ve recently finished a substantial roof replacement project at the Grove Road shopping parade in Norwich. The work was commissioned by the managing agent on behalf of the owners, who needed the ageing roof replaced and the insulation upgraded to bring the building in line with current Part L Building Regulations.
As with many of our commercial projects, we brought in Tubes Scaffolding to handle the access equipment. They know the site well and always set things up safely and efficiently, which allowed us to get straight into the more technical aspects of the job.
One of the biggest parts of this project was the installation of a tapered insulation scheme. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all product; it has to be designed and manufactured specifically for each roof. The boards are cut to match the exact layout, existing falls and drainage points. Once on site, they’re laid in place in a precise order so that the thicker ends create the necessary fall towards the new outlets.
The new fall makes a huge difference. When we first inspected the roof, there were large areas of standing water - something that had clearly been an ongoing issue for years. The tapered system solves that problem completely. Not only does it deal with the drainage, but it also boosts the thermal performance of the roof to ensure the building meets modern insulation standards.
With the insulation in place, we installed a high-performance Danosa Polydan bituminous roofing system. It’s a reliable, long-lasting flat roofing solution, and this one comes with a 25-year guarantee covering both the materials and our workmanship. We’ve also registered the project through the NFRC Competent Roofer Scheme, which means we’ll be issuing a Building Regulations Certificate of Compliance once everything is finalised. This gives the owners confidence that the refurbishment meets all current regulatory requirements.
We also collaborated with Bartec Services, a specialist ventilation contractor. Their team disconnected the existing roof-mounted ductwork, extended it to accommodate the new roof height, manufactured new weathering cravats, and then returned to reinstall everything once our works were complete. It was a neat bit of coordination that ensured the ventilation system remained fully functional without compromising the new roof build-up.
All in all, the project has delivered a safer, better insulated and far more efficient roof for the shopping parade - one that will serve the property for many years to come.
If you need advice on refurbishing or upgrading a commercial flat roof, give us a call on 01603 418818. We’re always happy to take a look and provide a free, no-obligation quote.
