Background

Nestled within the idyllic grounds of the ever-popular RHS Bridgewater Gardens, Blue Peter Garden exudes an air of modern tranquillity perfectly encapsulated inside this historical setting in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally unveiled at the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show before relocating to Bridgewater, Blue Peter Garden – Discover Soil encompasses the perfect blend of education and entertainment, primarily aimed at its younger visitors, through a variety of interactive learning materials that provide insight to the science around and the importance of soil.   

Challenge

More intriguing, however, is the quaint house within the grounds, painted in vibrant hues of blue and orange, symbolic of the garden’s namesake and famous children’s television programme, Blue Peter. Looking beyond the house and its exuberant array of surrounding flowers, sits a metal framed fibreglass roof structure, originally consisting of a GRP system covered with green roof sedum in select areas. Owing to the poor and aged condition of the existing roof covering, Polyroof approved contractor, Permicoat Limited, recognised that a refurbishment of the roof area was required to futureproof the structure and the house below, and therefore, looked towards Polyroof’s advanced liquid waterproofing technology for a resolution. Additionally, there were numerous detailing issues identified by Permicoat and the Polyroof technical team upon conducting the site survey, which subsequently surmised that the roof would benefit from a brand new high-performance waterproofing system to provide long-term protection from leaking.  

Open to the public daily, the risk of operational disruption to Blue Peter Gardens and the wider RHS Bridgewater was significant, therefore, it was important for the specified waterproofing solution to meet the client’s tight turnaround requirements. The unusual roofing project posed significant complexity through its unique design, which incorporated a tree growing through the roof structure itself. Therefore, throughout the duration of the installation, Permicoat had to pay special attention to this distinctive detail to not cause disturbance to the eye-catching, elegant feature.  

Another challenge that the contractors faced during the project, was the presence of a shower that would ultimately require consistent water and electrical supply connected at roof level. However, the presence of such at the time of initial inspection was facilitating water ingress, thus necessitating the need for proper termination of these details. This was achieved by Permicoat temporarily disconnecting the cables and pipes before installing a roof riser to feed them through. In doing so, thi would subsequently enable the Protec System to be terminated around the roof riser correctly and ensure the waterproofing was carried out and sealed before reconnecting the shower.  

As the installation commenced, Permicoat stripped back the numerous sections of de-bonded GRP from the metal substrate and primed the roof surface with Polyroof SA Primer and carrier membrane, prior to the application of the embedment coat. This would ultimately help the waterproofing system to achieve a seamless finish, fully bonded to the substrate.  

Solution

Polyroof’s market-leading Protec System was specified by Permicoat to overlay the existing roof area, due to its reputation for providing high-performance waterproofing. The system was installed along with 450gsm of fibre glass reinforcement matting to help achieve the level of durability that Polyroof systems are renowned for. Encompassing RapidCure technology, with cure times as little as 30 minutes, Polyroof’s range of liquid waterproofing solutions utilise catalyst, accelerators, and inhibitors to allow full control over the cure time across a wide range of temperatures all year round, keeping disruption to an absolute minimum. Protec can be installed over a variety of substrates to create a seamless, impact-resistant finish to prolong the lifespan of the roof structure for many years to come. Complete with key industry accreditations, including a BBA durability rating of at least 30 years, this serves as testament to the Protec System’s robustness and ability to provide long-lasting protection. 

Following completion of the waterproofing in October 2024, the next stage of the wider refurbishment project at Blue Peter Garden will see the installation of green roof sedum above the Protec System, further enhancing the aesthetics of what is already an exceptionally picturesque environment. Green roofs create not only the perfect recreational space, generating a peaceful ambience for visitors, but they also provide natural habitats for wildlife. The addition of a new green roof at Blue Peter Garden will be in-keeping with the garden’s surroundings, promoting the important role that soil and vegetation play in harmony with one another to benefit the wider environment.  

Polyroof’s range of liquid waterproofing systems are ideally suited for use in conjunction with green roofs, owing to their seamless, maintenance-free, lightweight, and long-lasting characteristics, being flexible enough to easily accommodate structural movement. When used in conjunction with a green roof system, the durability of Polyroof membranes are even further extended due to a vastly reduced risk of UV penetration.

Result 

Despite the complexities and challenges faced by Permicoat, the overall project at Blue Peter Garden was a success, with the Protec installation meeting the client’s requirements to achieve long-lasting waterproofing to house’s roof. Due to the construction of some of the steel beams, this required Permicoat to look at alternative methods of applying the membrane in order terminate the system correctly, therefore, where necessary, the system was dressed and detailed tight up to the underside of the beams. The finished result, however, provides a durable waterproof finish making it the perfect base for the green roof, creating a charming centrepiece at Blue Peter Garden that will stand the test of time.  

Do you have a flat roofing project where you are faced with design complexities? Take advantage of our free of charge technical services, including bespoke specifications, roof surveys, wind calculations, thermal calculations, and much more.