2020
Birkenhead, Mersyside
BACKGROUND
Part of the Co-op Academies Trust since 2018, Portland School in Birkenhead is a primary school for children aged 3-11. Attended by Everton and England footballing legend of the 1920s and 30s, Dixie Dean, the main school building has had many additions over time, resulting in a roof with 24 roof areas at varying levels and with various roof build-ups. The whole of this 1600m2 roof was in need of refurbishment as part of a programme of maintenance and upgrades following the school’s transition to academy status.
The Co-op Academy Trust developed a specification requirement for the project, which included the use of a bituminous system with an extended service life. The SikaShield® 25-year system provided an ideal solution for this requirement.
Safety precautions were even more important due to the live school environment so working with a roofing provider that could offer a Safe2Torch system with self-adhesive membranes for torch-free zones was imperative. Sika’s specialist Roof Refurbshment team was able to do a full site survey and provide a Safe2Torch plan for the installation.
The quality and durability of the finish was also a key requirement of the project. The SikaShield® system, combined with the skills and experience of the team at roofing contractor, Holloway Cook Associates Ltd, answered this need with neat detailing across all roof areas.
SIKASHIELD SOLUTION
Co-op Academy Trust approached Holloway Cook about the project as a roofing contractor that could deliver the role of principal contractor, including design, health and safety and installation within a turnkey package. The contractor considered the SikaShield® system, along with the support of Sika’s Roof Refurbishment team, to be the ideal solution for this project.
All roof areas were stripped out, including removal of 19 layers of previous waterproofing systems from the oldest part of the roof, to reveal varying substrates including concrete, plywood and asphalt. The Holloway Cook team prepared each roof area before applying the self-adhesive air and vapour control layer (AVCL), followed by Sikatherm insulation.
The SikaShield® E74 self-adhered underlay was then installed onto the insulation followed by SikaShield® HB79 Torch-on cap sheet in all Safe2Torch areas. For the torch free zones identified on the Safe2Torch plan, comprising the interfaces between roof areas and adjacent buildings, SikaShield® E79 self-adhesive cap sheet was used. Holloway Cook also replaced façade’s and several windows as part of the project scope.
"Our team is very experienced in bituminous membrane installations but the SikaShield® system is new to us. We have been very impressed with both the ease of use and quality of finish the system offers, all supported by the service and technical support that Sika’s Roof Refurbishment division provides throughout the project." Mike Holloway, Operations Director of Holloway Cook