Chapel Court is a Grade II listed 19th century building, which has converted into apartments. Impressed with the standard of work carried out on similar properties, HML Property Management again hired Complete Roofing Systems to re-slate the building’s 500 sq m roof, which had been leaking for many years.
The building is fully occupied and having been instructed to go ahead with the works within days of the Covid-19 lockdown, the team managed several challenges during the 10-week project.
After stripping the existing slates, we found that one of the longstanding leaks had rotted the timber in both the gutters and the spars, which needed to be completely replaced before slating could begin.
Using 13,000 traditional Welsh slates, we then reinstated the roof covering, including to the valley gutters, land gutters, hips, top and side abutments. We also repaired the chimney and replaced the lead gutters.
HML Property Management
Macclesfield, Cheshire
Slating
Residential
As the building was fully occupied during the works due to some residents shielding and many others working from home, the residents’ safety and comfort was our utmost priority. Careful site management was critical to minimising disruption and ensuring convenient and safe access to the building.
In such unusual circumstances, the relationship between our site operatives and the residents was key to success. The team regularly updated and reassured the residents to ensure they were aware of the programme and all their concerns had been resolved.
In addition to working on an occupied building, Covid-19 presented more health and safety challenges.
After careful consideration of advice from the Construction Leadership Council and Build UK, as well as consulting with the client, our senior management team decided that work could be carried out safely.
The project team implemented new Site Operating Procedures (SOP) developed by the Construction Leadership Council for Covid-19, which are based on Public Health England guidelines and include protocols for social distancing on site. At the time, we were also the first roofing contractor in the UK to have all our Site Supervisors undertake the new Ofqual accredited Covid Marshall course, such was our commitment to working safely and protecting our clients.
Operatives were given toolbox talks on these new SOPs, with breaks staggered to minimise the number of individuals using the site cabin and hand sanitiser, plus soap and water, was made available. In addition to a full-time Site Manager, a third party Health and Safety Auditor was also employed by us to carry out regular inspections throughout the project.
The project was delivered on time and within budget despite the limitations of the lockdown. The combination of an adaptable site team, communication and strong relationships ensured the project was highly successful in extremely difficult circumstances. The result is an aesthetically pleasing roof that is in keeping with the building’s rich heritage and will last generations.
Visit our leadwork and slating pages for more information on the services we offer.
”We are delighted with the quality and finish of the works undertaken by the team at CRS. The Welsh slate looks fabulous and the leadwork demonstrates skill seldom found these days. The firm also showed old fashioned courtesy when dealing with the residents of the building, even down to giving gifts of chocolates and cards to all of them at the end of the job and they were delighted to receive something so unexpected!
Phil DarlingtonHML Group
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