GRP FLAT ROOF AND GUTTER WORKS IN BIRMINGHAM
Coverclad Services was contracted to carry out GRP flat roofing and gutter works in Birmingham as part of a large commercial offices refurbishment to a mostly derelict and severely deteriorated building opposite New Street Railway Station. Water ingress was occurring to several locations around the premises and our main task was to treat and weather seal ten flat roof areas and eight wooden gutters of various shapes and sizes using glass reinforced plastic (GRP).
The commercial GRP roofing works were undertaken during the winter months, with complications from rain, snow and minimal daylight. And with the building being in the centre of Birmingham on a very busy road, parking and access was extremely restricted. Due to the working areas being narrow and tight, only two of our Coverclad GRP roofing experts were assigned to the job (which spanned three months in total).
Photos showing how some areas of the GRP flat roof and gutter works in Birmingham were installed are below. If you require specialist commercial GRP roofing installers or are in need of an emergency callout then please call 07976 726770. Alternatively you can send us a message.
The first area of the GRP roofing works being shown is three connected flat roofs. This is a before view. The foreground flat roof consisted of felt with loosely bonded aggregate.
Before view of the upper flat roofs to the area, which were felt again but coated with liquid applied membrane. The soil vent penetration was to remain but the hatch was no longer in use.
Progress view boarding out the lower flat roof area. GRP trims have been installed around the edges and resin applied to the boards (producing the slightly darker colour). With is being the winter months we worked in small sections moving across the roof.
Close-up of a GRP trim being rolled out around the flat roof edging. The bottom two courses of the roof tiles were removed to allow for the trim to be installed, and were then replaced over the top to make water tight after the GRP roofing installation was completed.
Pre-treated OSB board fitted to the upstand just below the first step-up flat roof section. The board is again darker in colour due to the glass reinforced plastic (GRP) being applied.
Boarding out to the various intricate sections of the two upper flat roofs and their upstands. A specialist tape is used to bridge the gap between the boards ready for the resin to be applied.
Completed view of the three connected GRP flat roofs with the final top coats applied.
The hatch to the upper flat roof section was completed encapsulated in GRP as it was no longer needed, whilst the soil vent was worked around.
The second area of the GRP roofing works in Birmingham being shown is the lift plant room. One of our additional tasks here was to strip and dispose of existing non-notifiable asbestos cement wall cladding sheets from the plant room elevation, and replace with new 0.7mm plastisol coated goosewing grey metal wall cladding sheets and trims to suit.
Before view of the rear of the plant room, showing the non-notifiable asbestos wall cladding sheets and old existing gutter as it wraps down and behind the structure.
Progress view with the asbestos wall cladding sheets removed and gridding out underway to receive the new metal wall cladding sheets, plus OSB boards fitted to the flat roof and gutters surrounding the plant room with trims and resin applied.
Completed view of the area surrounding the plant room with goosewing grey metal wall cladding sheets and GRP flat roof and gutters installed.
Before view of the small delaminated flat roof area leading down to the plant room. Some flat roof and gutter areas had historically been treated with various layers of cold liquid applied membrane (this one now cracking and failing).
Completed view along the side of the plant room leading back up to the small flat roof area. The new metal wall cladding sheets and GRP flat roof and gutters all finished.
Progress view of the rear edge gutter to the plant room, with glass reinforced resin along with fleece applied, awaiting top coat.
View of the same rear edge gutter to the plant room, with completed GRP gutter and GRP trims with Giromax seal around the edges.
Before view of the old dilapidated plant room GRP felt roof with failing cold liquid applied membrane. Scaffold edge protection in place for safety.
Old perimeter cappings removed from the existing plant room GRP roof, in order to install a grid system for the new metal wall cladding sheets.
Progress view of resin being applied to the plant room flat roof, and grid system in place to the underside ready to receive the new metal wall cladding sheets.
Completed view of the new GRP flat roof to the plant room.
Wider view of the newly installed plant room GRP flat roof in Birmingham.
Other flat roof examples from the GRP roofing in Birmingham are a circular flat roof and a rectangular flat roof. In the circular flat roof area, the lead counter flashing was in very poor condition, and the old surface application was severely delaminating.
View of the circular flat roof after being cleaned, to reveal the old failing liquid applied membrane.
View of the completed circular flat roof with new GRP roofing installed and Ubiflex non-lead alternative upstand flashing in place around the curve.
In the rectangular area, the moss and algae was extensive, and the aggregate had loosened over time with weathering and water cascading down the roof gradient. Any loose bits had to be scrapped off before OSB boards could be installed on top.
Completed rectangular GRP flat roof with OSB boards installed plus trims, resin and final top coat applied. Finished GRP gutter also leading down to the flat roof in the background.
The GRP gutter works to the old dilapidated office building in central Birmingham included various shapes and sizes. This example shows a before view of an existing box profile wooden gutter before any remedial works were undertaken, with lead counter flashing torn in some places and out of situ in others.
After view of the same gutter with glass reinforced plastic installed. To the left are pre-fabricated GRP trims going into the brickwork with Giromax seal along the top edge.
Progress view showing how the new GRP gutters are created. First the bottom two courses of the roof tiles and any old lead flashing are removed to facilitate our works. The existing gutters are cleaned and prepared, and OSB boards are installed with fleece (a thin glass mat type material) to form the base of the gutter and the upstands.
Resin is mixed with catalyst and brush applied to the upstands. A roller is used to apply the resin to the base. The flexibility of GRP is shown here as the gutter is formed over the corner down to the flat roof section below.
The glass reinforced plastic is also perfect at forming the new gutter around outlets and other intricate areas.
The final top coats of hard wearing GRP compatible paint are then applied (a Googewing Grey colour in this example), and pre-fabricated GRP edge trims are fitted with Giromax seal to finish.
Before view of another existing box profile wooden gutter at the Birmingham office building before any remedial works were undertaken.
After view of the same gutter, with new GRP gutter formed around an outlet point, ready for the roof tiles to be reinstated.
Before view of an existing wooden gutter with liquid applied membrane, channelling water down from one flat roof section to another.
Completed view of the same downward section with new GRP gutter formed and attached GRP trims and Giromax seal in place.