Brief

Clean & coat asbestos roof replace rooflights

Value

£ 36,000

Solution

Commercial Roof Clean & Liquid Re-coat

Advanced Labelling Systems Ltd (ALS) required urgent roofing works at their UK head office to support a wider refurbishment project taking place internally. The existing roof was suffering from multiple leaks that posed a threat to high-value labelling machinery and a newly developed first-floor office space.

Given the site’s continuous daily operation, a full roof replacement was not feasible. A fast, non-disruptive, and long-term waterproofing solution was essential.

Total Cladding and Roofing provided a specialist asbestos roof coating service alongside the external replacement of all rooflights, delivering a watertight, low-disruption result with a 10-year guarantee.

Project Challenges

The existing 1,000m² asbestos cement roof had degraded over time due to weather exposure and ageing bolt washers—both common issues in older industrial roofs. This resulted in frequent water ingress, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.

Due to the live nature of the building and the sensitive equipment inside, any solution had to avoid internal access and minimise noise, dust, and disruption.

Our Solution

Our team implemented a streamlined and safe refurbishment approach, designed to deliver long-term performance without interrupting operations:

• Pressure Cleaning with Contained Waste Management
  The asbestos cement roof was pressure-cleaned using a specialist system. Wastewater was filtered to 5 microns to comply with environmental safety standards.

• Surface Preparation & Roof Coating
  After thorough surface prep, the roof received a full coating application, restoring its waterproof performance and extending its service life significantly.

• Rooflight Replacement (External-Only Access)
  All existing rooflights were replaced and bolted from the outside only, eliminating the need for internal scaffold towers or elevated access equipment—saving time, cost, and disruption to the working environment below.

• Targeted Fixes to Known Failure Points
  Particular attention was paid to replacing degraded bolt washers, one of the main causes of leaks on older asbestos roofs. By addressing this vulnerability, we ensured lasting leak protection.

Outcome

✔ Project delivered on time and within budget
✔ Zero disruption to internal operations
✔ 10-year system guarantee provided on all works
✔ Long-term waterproofing without full roof replacement
✔ Safe and compliant handling of asbestos materials

Client Benefits

• No Business Interruption
  All works were completed externally, allowing ALS to continue their internal refurbishment and daily operations uninterrupted.

• Long-Term Value
  With a 10-year guarantee, the roof is now protected well into the future—avoiding major capital outlay on full replacement.

• Cleaner, Safer Roofing
  The coating and rooflight upgrades improved both the thermal efficiency and natural lighting inside the building.

Summary

This project highlights how a well-planned and executed asbestos roof coating solution can solve major leakage issues while avoiding the downtime and disruption of full roof replacement. It also demonstrates Total Cladding and Roofing’s capability to adapt to challenging live environments, delivering clean, fast, and cost-effective solutions tailored to client needs.