One of the landmarks of the Brighton seafront, the
upmarket Abbotts Building, is once again watertight and guaranteed to remain so
for 25 years now it has a new flat roof specified, manufactured and supplied by
Icopal and installed by an Icopal- approved contractor.
Commanding impressive views across the English
Channel, Abbotts Building is directly opposite the British Airways i360, giving
visitors to the world's tallest moving observation tower a seagull’s view of
what was the deteriorating roof and the many patches and repairs it required
over 10 years.
Built in 1961-2, Abbotts is an eight-storey block of
17 apartments, including the penthouse apartment that occupies the whole of the
top storey and which suffered the worst from repeated leaks. Kevin Smith, a
freelance surveyor working on behalf of Priors Property Management in Hove,
realised that the whole roof had to be replaced.
“Thermal imaging showed that water had penetrated
through the top layer of asphalt but then travelled along the roof until it
penetrated through the next layer and through to the concrete deck beneath,” he
said. “This explained why previous repairs were ineffectual – it was impossible
to find exactly where the leak had started from where it emerged.”
Working with Peter Swanell, the BMI Area Technical
Manager, Kevin considered two alternatives: Icopal Enviroflex, a liquid applied
waterproofing membrane; or a bituminous system, finished with Icopal’s Profiles
XL Plus FireSmart capsheet. Both would be guaranteed for 25 years, if installed
by a member of the IMA – the Intelligent Membrane Association, BMI’s network of
Icopal-approved contractors.
“We opted for the Profile because we felt that its
greater thickness would provide longer, more durable protection in what was an
exposed coastal location,” Kevin explained.
IMA member, Clarke Roofing (Southern), was awarded the
contract and installed Icopal QD Bitumen Primer on top of the existing Mastic
Asphalt, before then installing the vapour control layer, Profiles Vapour Vent
XL, and the adhesive layer, Bonding To Bitumen Stripes. The insulation was
Thermazone Torch-On Insulation, with Profiles Vent XL U/L underlay and a
capsheet of Profiles XL PLUS FireSmart Mineral.
Clarke Roofing was on-site for six weeks, assisted by
Icopal throughout via regular contact and on-site inspections. The results,
thanks to the i360, are constantly on show to locals and visitors alike and
enhance the Brighton roofscape.
Ray Edwards, Clarke Roofing Quantity Surveyor, said:
“It was a pleasure to work with Priors, on this high-profile project in
Brighton. Their project Surveyor Kevin Smith assisted with a seamless and
trouble-free roofing project. A single point of contact is always desirable
between the Stakeholder and Main Contractor.”
