Queens Drive Campus, Swindon
Client: New College Swindon
Project Overview
Queens Drive Campus, Swindon
300 m²
Service: Roofing
Sector: Education
- Approved Contractor: MLG UK Ltd
- System Installed: Polyroof Protec liquid waterproofing
- Client: New College Swindon
- Duration: Six-week summer break, fixed, non-negotiable
- Work Carried Out: Strip-out, tapered insulation scheme, liquid waterproofing
Scope of Work
Water had been getting into the plant area at New College Swindon for years, through a single-ply membrane at the end of its life. MLG replaced 300 m² of it with a tapered insulation scheme and the Polyroof Protec liquid system.
- 300 m² full warm roof replacement
- Existing waterlogged roof stripped by hand and the concrete substrate dried before any AVCL or insulation went down
- Each of 108 concrete plinths individually wrapped in AVCL
- Tapered PIR boards hand-cut board by board to a pre-designed scheme, maintaining falls for drainage
- Polyroof Protec liquid waterproofing throughout
Systems installed
- Waterproofing: Protec liquid waterproofing system (Polyroof)
- Insulation: 200mm tapered insulation scheme (Polyroof)
- Weather protection: Night seals applied daily to protect the build-up between shifts (Polyroof)
Challenges & Constraints
A fixed six-week window
The dates were non-negotiable: the roof was scheduled around crane removal and reinstatement of large mechanical plant, and everything had to finish inside the six-week summer break before students returned.
Weather from both directions
The project lost its entire first week to heavy rain, then was hit by a heatwave that restricted working hours because of the temperature limits on the liquid system.
108 concrete plinths
The roof carried 108 concrete plinths, so every insulation board had to be trimmed and fitted by hand to preserve thermal performance and keep the falls working.
Project Execution & Techniques
Stripped and dried first
The waterlogged existing roof was stripped by hand and the concrete substrate dried out before any AVCL or insulation went down.
Every plinth wrapped
Each of the 108 concrete plinths was individually wrapped in AVCL rather than dressed around.
Boards cut individually
Tapered PIR boards were hand-cut board by board to a pre-designed scheme, so the falls kept working for drainage around every obstruction.
Sealed down each night
Progress was held at around 25 m² a day, and the work was sealed down at the end of every day to protect the exposed build-up overnight.
Outcome & Long-Term Benefits
Programme recovered
The lost week and the heatwave restrictions were absorbed without moving the crane dates or the student return.
Falls and insulation preserved
Because each board was cut to fit rather than laid over the plinths, the tapered scheme kept both its drainage falls and the thermal performance of the build-up.
Failed membrane replaced
300 m² of single-ply membrane at the end of its life, which had been letting water into the plant area for years, was replaced with a full warm roof and Protec liquid waterproofing.
Incumbent contractor renewed
MLG is the incumbent roofing contractor at New College Swindon and has been renewed for a further five years.
Conclusion
Water had been getting into the plant area at New College Swindon for years through a single-ply membrane at the end of its life. Replacing it meant 300 m² of strip-out, a tapered insulation scheme and liquid waterproofing, all inside a six-week summer break fixed around crane operations and the students coming back.
The first week went to rain and a later heatwave cut working hours because of the liquid system’s temperature limits. MLG worked at around 25 m² a day because 108 concrete plinths meant hand-cutting every board, sealed the build-up down each night, and still met the dates. MLG is the incumbent roofing contractor at the college, renewed for a further five years.
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