Case studies - Post & Purlin
Beulah Court Retirement Home, Halesowen, West Midlands
Client: Dudley Metropolitan Council
Main Contractor: Thomas Vale Construction Ltd
Installed By: Brooks Construction Services Ltd
Beulah Court Retirement Home in Halesowen, West Midlands, was becoming an increasing nightmare for Dudley Metropolitan Council due to water ponding on the failed flat roof which allowed water ingress, which in turn created unacceptable humidity levels inside the building.
The council determined that a long term solution was preferable and so decided to convert the flat roof into a pitched roof.
FTP Systems Ltd were approached to consider the problem and subsequently proposed that a tile effect cladding sheet be adopted to blend in with the adjacent housing. A small 270mm soffit or overhang was considered the best way of ensuring light access to the many nooks and crannies
created by the highly irregular platform of the building. A late extension with an unsympathetic pitched roof was skilfully incorporated into the new scheme. Following approval under planning and building control, construction was commenced.
The Kami TerraPLEGEL Hi-load Roof tile sheet, by Lafarge Roofing was adopted due to its conventional tile effect appearance, its capacity to span between purlins (up to 1400mm), and its availability in long sheet lengths enabling ridge to eaves to be achieved in one sheet length. The FTP Post and Purlin system readily accepts the Kami sheets, due to having a 67mm wide flange pre-pitched to the chosen roof pitch, of 10º in the case of Beulah Court. The 3000mm spanning capacity of the purlin results in fewer penetrations of the existing roofing to hold the roof down to the existing roof timbers with a consequent benefit in reducing the risk of water ingress during construction. This security gave the building management the confidence to carry out the works with the tenants’ in-situ, thereby eliminating the stress of upheaval to the tenants and saving in consequential costs. New insulation was installed to enhance the comfort of tenants and reduce heating costs.
The overall lightweight building fabric did not need any reinforcement to allow it to accept the new superstructure whilst enabling speedy installation due to the industrial character of the building system yet providing a building system that is patently not industrial.
The improved appearance of the building with powder coated aluminium gutters, fascias and soffits is impressive. Asset value has been increased and running costs have been reduced.
Another project completed on time and on budget!
