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Case Study

Pool Academy, Successful CIF Support & Renovation

Garland UK Technical Manager
Justyn Irons

Approved Contractor
DFR Roofing, Stay Dry Roofing

Pool Academy, Successful CIF Support & Renovation

Garland System

StressPly Flex

Sector

Education

The Pool Academy, nestled in the west of Cornwall, has been a long-standing education provider, catering to over 600 11-16 year olds in the local area. Over the years, the facilities team at the Academy had made their best efforts to remedy the growing number of waterproofing issues across the site with quick-fix repairs. Unfortunately due to substantial leaks and relentless water ingress, many classrooms at the site had been forced to shut, causing continuous disruption to students and staff.

Following a strong track record of successful Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) bids, Garland UK was recommended and chosen as the trusted roofing partner to support Pool Academy’s bid process and were soon appointed to collate the essential supporting evidence for the upcoming CIF application.

Challenge

Collaborating with local building surveying firm Cunningham Taylor, Garland UK’s Technical Manager, Justyn Irons, carried out a series of investigative works on-site, starting with a comprehensive condition survey of each roof section, including core sample testing, U-Value calculation and analysis, as well as a series of supporting photographic evidence.

Following the condition survey, it was clear that the Pool Academy was in need of a complete roof replacement scheme. Cunningham Taylor, with the supporting reports produced by Garland, were successful in their application to the Condition Improvement Fund which released over £500K to carry out the much-needed works.

Solution

With a total replacement of over 4,000m2, a phased schedule of works across a 2 year period was adopted to reduce the disruption to the academy as much as possible. Working with main contractor TEC Construction and Approved Contractors DFR Roofing, and Stay Dry Roofing, works commenced with the Garland Technical Manager regularly on-site to oversee the installation.

The Pool Academy roof had an existing layer of bitumen felt with mineral wool insulation, which had become the major cause of the water ingress due to the movement in the poorly designed roof system.

A labour-intensive process was soon underway, to remove the mineral wool which had been mechanically fixed to the structure, before installing a full Garland StressPly Flex Warm Roof system. The system is built up from a newly installed Vapour Control Layer. To this layer, a fully tapered insulation scheme was installed to achieve 0.18w/m2k, the current building regulation requirement, and also to move water off the roof and to the outlet points in a more efficient way. On top of the insulation, a full torch-on system including a vented base sheet and mineral embedded cap sheet was installed.

The roof also had some failing metal roof sections which were suffering from cut edge corrosion and ingress around the fixing points where the perished seals were allowing water directly into the system. This was overclad using a bar and bracket system and additional insulation, to again achieve 0.18 w/m2k, with Garland’s R-MER CLAD system with the new roof being matched to the school’s original colour scheme.

In order to maintain a warm roof system to the residential balconies, Dura-Walk was coated on top of a new bituminous system incorporating VCL (Vapour Control Layer), insulation, plywood and a carrier layer to receive the coating itself. Using a plywood deck ensured a strong surface for the coating, whilst the bituminous membrane enabled the upstand details to be fully encapsulated, providing the much needed extra waterproofing protection.

It was essential for extra measures to be taken to ensure that the green roof was protected as much as possible from the weather elements. The new-build apartments were beach facing and susceptible to strong offshore winds, so to protect the edges of the green roof system from any potential uplift, a natural solution in the form of large pebbles were hand-laid, to secure the vegetation as much as possible.

Outcome

The Pool Academy was able to greatly benefit from Garland UK’s diverse system offering, utilising both bituminous membrane and metal sheet systems to tackle the failing roofing issues head-on.

Following the success of the Phase 1 bid, the Pool Academy had confidence in the successful team between Cunningham Taylor and Garland UK, leading to a Phase 2 CIF bid submission and further securing future funds for the client.

The client was extremely happy with the end results, with money saved in the long-term, zero water ingress and improved insulation levels, creating a much-improved learning environment for the school. Garland’s 25 year Single-Point Guarantee has given the school lasting peace of mind.

Pool Academy, Successful CIF Support & Renovation

Garland Technical Manager

Justyn Irons

Approved Contractor

DFR Roofing, Stay Dry Roofing

Modern metal tile roof refurbishment at Ynystawe Primary School, with R-MER TILE ST, retaining the traditional aesthetics of the building whilst providing superior long-term durability.

Quick Facts

Garland System

Dura-Coat

Sector

Residential

Project Saving Cost

£900,000

The storm exposed critical weaknesses in the original roof design, which had failed to cope with the site’s wind load demands. The closure meant immediate loss of revenue, reduced access to community leisure facilities, and growing urgency to reopen.

The replacement roof required complex engineering to match the building’s 40 metre wide dual-curved structure. Standing seam sheets up to 22 metres in length had to be precision-engineered off-site, with escorted delivery, timed road closures, and careful sequencing of work.

With only a small car park as the site compound, storage, crane operations, and contractor access needed meticulous planning. Moisture protection for the exposed structure was critical throughout, with temporary coverings installed until the new system could be sealed.

Garland UK Technical Manager Rob Wall specified the R-MER LOC standing seam metal system, designed for storm resilience, thermal efficiency, and long service life in marine climates. Its penetration-free, zip-free seam design enabled faster installation and allowed for thermal movement without panel distortion.

The system was tailored to the building’s complex geometry, with 22 metre top sheet runs and 18 metre lower runs. Approved contractor, Future Roof Leeds, carried out the works, reusing the existing perforated aluminium liner where possible to reduce waste and disruption.

A high-performance, foil-lined vapour control layer was installed, along with upgraded insulation and a breather membrane suitable for coastal exposure. Acoustic infills were also integrated to maintain internal sound control, enhancing the original system’s acoustic performance.

The 1,200 sqm roofing system was completed on time and within budget, restoring full functionality to SC2 Water Park and preventing further loss of income. Garland UK’s Roof Asset Management Programme (RAMP) now provides the Council with a complete digital record of the project, including inspection reports, guarantees, and maintenance guidance, giving estates teams full visibility for ongoing asset care.

Covered by a 30 year Single-Point Guarantee for design, materials, and workmanship, the Council has complete assurance that any issues will be resolved swiftly, without dispute or additional cost.

The reopening of SC2 Water Park has reinstated a much-loved leisure venue for residents and visitors, supporting local wellbeing, tourism, and economic activity. The storm-resilient design means fewer disruptions and reduced maintenance, and reliable year-round availability, even in challenging weather.

Robin Jones, Senior Building Surveyor at Denbighshire County Council, commented,

“The level of service from Garland UK has been first-class from start to finish. Rob and the team gave us confidence at every stage, from design to handover. The quality of the roof and the management of such a tricky site exceeded our expectations.”

Rob Wall, Technical Manager at Garland UK, added,

“This was a demanding brief in a harsh environment. The combination of curved geometry, extreme sheet lengths and complex logistics called for precision planning and strong collaboration. We’re proud to have supported the Council in getting this key venue back up and running.”