Holly Lodge is a purpose-built residential apartment building in Woking. Home Approved was instructed to review, specify and manage major roof refurbishment works following ongoing issues with water ingress, condensation, heat loss and poor energy performance.

Approximately five years before our involvement, and under a previous management company, the flat roof had been replaced using a warm roof system. However, the building has a mansard roof arrangement, with pitched roof slopes around the perimeter and loft spaces above the apartments. The original loft insulation had been left in place and no meaningful improvement had been made to the pitched roof slopes. As a result, the so-called warm roof system was providing no effective benefit to the building as a whole.

The previous works had also been completed to a poor standard. Within a relatively short period, the glass fibre roof covering had started to peel, crack and fail.

Home Approved reviewed the roof arrangement and worked alongside appointed consultants and a major roofing product manufacturer to design a new roofing scheme. While many modern roofs are constructed as warm roof systems, retrospectively applying that approach to this type of mansard roof was not practical and would not have delivered the required performance benefits. We therefore reverted to an improved cold roof arrangement, with full renewal of the flat and pitched roof coverings, upgraded insulation, improved ventilation and a specialist gutter system designed to manage the high volume and flow rates from the roof slopes.

The replacement roof system was specified with manufacturer support and backed by a 20-year warranty. The works were delivered by a trusted local roofing contractor, who produced an exceptional standard of finish.

Scope of works

Home Approved was instructed to specify and manage a comprehensive roof refurbishment scheme. Our remit included:

• Review of the existing failed roof system and wider mansard roof arrangement.
• Coordination with professional consultants and the roofing product manufacturer.
• Specification of a replacement cold roof system supported by a manufacturer-backed 20-year warranty.
• Full replacement of the flat and pitched roof coverings.
• Upgrades to insulation and ventilation to reduce condensation risk and improve thermal performance.
• Design and installation of a specialist gutter system.
• Fire stopping and compartmentation improvements.
• Management of the tender process, contractor engagement and project delivery.

Outcome

The works resolved long-standing issues affecting the building, including water ingress, condensation, heat loss and poor roof performance.

In the first 18 months following completion, there has not been a single reported issue with water ingress or condensation. The overall energy efficiency of the building has also been significantly improved.

The project delivered a roof system suited to the building’s original mansard roof arrangement, backed by a 20-year manufacturer warranty and completed to an exceptional standard by an experienced local roofing contractor.

Client benefits

Home Approved identified why the previous roof system had failed, challenged the suitability of the earlier warm roof approach and coordinated a replacement scheme that properly addressed the building as a whole.

The result was a robust, practical and successful roof refurbishment scheme that delivered measurable improvements in performance, reliability and comfort for the residents.