Holy Name Church, Manchester
Project Overview
Holy Name Church in Manchester is one of the city’s most significant historic churches. Designed by Joseph A. Hansom and opened in 1871, with the tower added in 1928 to designs by Adrian Gilbert Scott, the Grade I listed building remains an active place of worship.
The project required a roofing solution that could support the church’s long-term protection while respecting its historic fabric and architectural character.
The works formed part of a sensitive roof renewal programme to high-level areas of the building. Across a total area of 170m², the existing mastic asphalt coverings to the external tower roof and internal belfry roof were replaced with the IKO Permaphalt mastic asphalt waterproofing system.
For a building of this significance, mastic asphalt offered a practical and sympathetic solution, with the durability and versatility needed for refurbishment work and complex detailing.
Challenges
This was not a straightforward replacement project. The two roof areas presented very different technical demands.
The tower roof was an uninsulated system on a new concrete deck with extensive vertical detailing around the access door, while the internal belfry roof required a tapered insulation scheme designed around the support frame to the church bells. The timber-decked belfry roof also needed new free-standing timber kerbs, adding further complexity to detailing and sequencing.
Access was equally demanding throughout. The tower roof sits around 185 feet above street level, while the internal belfry roof could only be accessed through a window opening. Material handling had to be planned with exceptional care.
The asphalt mixer was positioned on a secure platform just above street level, and small containers of mastic asphalt were raised to both roof levels. Supplying the tower roof also required the containers to be lowered from the top of the surrounding walls, down to roof level.
Solutions
A carefully planned installation approach helped the team manage the demands of both roof areas safely and effectively. IKO Permaphalt was selected to renew waterproofing to these sensitive parts of the church, providing a seamless mastic asphalt finish well suited to the refurbishment context and the complex detailing involved.
By coordinating logistics, sequencing and detailing around the constraints of the church structure, Falcon Asphalt was able to complete the works to the required heritage standard. The finished installation renewed waterproofing to two high-level roof areas while respecting the character of the building and supporting its long-term preservation.
Project name and location:
Holy Name Church, Manchester
Main IKO system:
IKO Permaphalt mastic asphalt roofing and waterproofing system
Roof area:
170m²
Project sector:
IKO Guarantee:
20-year Single Point Guarantee
Contractor:
Falcon Asphalt