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Thu March 28 2024

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Speed of installation underlines the gradient benefits

28 Jun 10 Gradient Flat Roofing’s status as the industry leader in the provision of single-layer tapered insulation was illustrated by Phase 2 of a recent project to re-roof Hope Valley College in Derbyshire.

In addition to providing an effective insulation solution which satisfied Building Regulation requirements and ensured effective run-off of rainwater, Gradient was also able to significantly reduce the amount of on-site installation time required.

Having successfully completed Phase 1 of work on the College, Gradient was invited by Derbyshire County Council to design and manufacture a suitable solution for the remaining  3,3112 metres of the roof. “There were basically four different types of roof construction on this project,” explains Contracts Manager Ian Harcourt from the roofing sub-contractor appointed, Shire Building Services. “To suit their different requirements Gradient proposed combinations of tapered PIR and tapered cork-faced PIR roof-board, laminated into a single layer. This was used to improve and redirect existing falls and also create new ones so that the roof provided the required drainage performance.”

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The Gradient insulation was supplied to site pre-cut and mitred into bespoke sections, each destined for a specific area of the roof. “Manufacturing and cutting under our factory-controlled conditions helps us to ensure each section of insulation is accurately sized and creates the correct cut-to-fall,” explains Gradient’s Steve Adams.  “This then means that much less work is required on-site and so installation times can be reduced significantly when compared to alternative solutions.”

Once work started on the 24-week programme problems were discovered where some areas of the original roof screed had to be replaced. “This potentially had an impact on the proposed insulation solution for those areas,” says Council Building Surveyor, Robert Turner. “However Gradient was able to redesign the cut-to-fall of the insulation in these areas and ensure that the finished roof drained as required.” The roof was completed with a waterproof layer of built-up mineral felt. 

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