Abbey Hill Academy, Stockton – IKOslate
Project description
Abbey Hill Academy is a magical place where young people aged 11 to 16 who have learning difficulties and disabilities learn, grow, find inspiration and achieve.
IKO was asked to carry out a survey on the Stephenson Building at Abbey Hill Academy and after careful inspection of the Eternit fibre cement slate roof covering, IKO found the roof to be nearing the end of its life expectancy.
The roof was approx. 30 years old and was failing in many areas, there were signs of numerous repairs to various areas some of which were poorly installed. Other areas had been subject to vandalism.
The felt beneath the slates was an old 1F bitumen based sarking felt, which had seriously deteriorated in areas due to heat and gasses from inside the building rising and the felt system not being able to breathe which caused the felt system to break down, causing condensation issues within the building.
The structural glazing housed on the ridge line of the roofs was originally done in conjunction with the roofing works 30 years previously; the glazing was single leaf, offering little heat retention to a modern heated building. This was an area of excessive heat loss.
Solution and installation
All of the ageing cement slates, and sarking felt was stripped and re-roofed with IKO Rubershield Pro Breather Membrane and treated roof battens. A full re-roof of the building using IKOslate was then installed.
IKOslate is a polymer composite roof tile manufactured from mineral reinforced, 99% recycled and re-engineered materials. Its unique structure gives it superior strength and makes it easier to handle and install, as well reducing damage from impact and vandalism.
The slate has Thrutone colour and is non-fragile, guaranteed for 40 years from IKO PLC. IKOflash a modern alternative to traditional lead was used for brick abutment cover flashings and valleys. All structural glazing was changed, renewing the ridge lights and octagons with new double glazed units.
Due to the size of the project and its scale, the project was started in the summer holidays 2017 and finished at the end of the summer holidays 2018. Within that space of time scaffold was erected, work carried out and scaffold dropped ready for the children to return and carry on their education after every half term and educational break.
This was a complex project logistically and was carried out with great care and attention by Barclay Roofing overseen by IKO PLC.
“Due to the structural glazing all being replaced in the summer holidays 2018, scaffolding was required over the new IKOslate roof covering to reach the ridge-lines. IKOslate was the ideal choice being non fragile. No slates were broken at all within the process. The end result being an outstanding new roof covering to a sensitive building.”
Paul Trelease – Managing Director Barclay Roofing
