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Clarke Roofing replaced a flat roof at St John's Meads C of E Primary School in Eastbourne during the summer holidays. The project included stripping the existing roof, installing a new Langley Liquid Roofing System with PIR insulation, new lead flashings, and reinstating all removed components. Completed on time with no disruption to the school.
Clarke Roofing Southern Ltd were appointed to carry out the full replacement of a flat roof at St John's Meads Church of England Primary School in Eastbourne. The project was scheduled during the school summer holidays so that all works could be completed without any disruption to staff, pupils, or the day-to-day running of the school. This is something we regularly manage when working on school roofing projects, timing is just as important as the work itself.
Working on an occupied school site, even during the holidays, requires careful planning. There are safeguarding considerations, restricted access points, and a firm deadline, the roof needed to be fully completed and the site cleared before the new term started. On top of that, the existing flat roof covering had reached the end of its serviceable life and needed to be completely stripped back, with the underlying timber deck inspected for any signs of damage or decay before a new system could go down.
The project began with the installation of access scaffolding to allow safe working at height throughout the job. Before any roofing work could start, the ridge tiles, rainwater downpipes, and layboards, the boards that sit where the flat roof meets the adjoining tiled roof, were carefully removed and stored on site for re-use.
The existing flat roof covering was then fully stripped back and the timber deck underneath was thoroughly inspected for any signs of rot, water damage, or structural weakness. This is a critical step, there is no point laying a new system on top of timber that is past its best.
With the deck in good condition, the team installed the new Langley Liquid Roofing System, a cold-applied liquid waterproofing membrane that provides a seamless, fully bonded finish across the whole roof area. As part of this, 130mm PIR insulation boards were laid to bring the roof's thermal performance up to current standards and reduce heat loss.
The added insulation raised the overall roof height, so new chases (grooves) were cut into the existing render on the adjoining walls to suit the new roof line, and new lead flashings were installed to form a watertight seal where the flat roof meets the walls. Finally, all previously removed components, layboards, ridge tiles, and downpipes, were reinstated, with adaptations made to the neighbouring tiling to account for the increased height.
The flat roof replacement was completed on programme during the school summer holiday, with no disruption to the school's operations. The new Langley Liquid Roofing System, combined with the upgraded PIR insulation, has given the school a modern, fully waterproof, and thermally efficient roof that will perform for years to come. This project is a good example of what can be achieved with the right planning, the right materials, and an experienced roofing team.
Clarke Roofing Southern Ltd is a third-generation, family-run roofing, construction, and heritage restoration company based in Eastbourne, East Sussex. With over 75 years of experience, we work across the South East for a wide range of clients including homeowners, schools, local authorities, architects, and The National Trust.
Our services include flat roofing, heritage and restoration roofing, we also offer construction work such as barn conversions, rooflights, brickwork, carpentry and joinery, and decoration, as well as dedicated domestic and commercial roofing, and full project management.
Clarke Roofing are accredited by the NFRC, Constructionline Gold, CHAS, TrustMark, the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA), and the Lead Contractors Association, among others. We are also approved contractors for Langley, Sika, Bauder, BMI, IKO, and Garland. All new projects and re-roofs carry a minimum 10-year guarantee.
To discuss a project or request a quotation, get in touch.