Background: hotel and architectural history 

The Grade II listed Savoy ‒ Britain’s first luxury hotel ‒ opened in 1889. The original building underwent a series of extensions and alterations throughout the early 20th century, including architect Howard Robertson’s 1929 Art Deco revamp. This included the now-iconic Savoy sign above the front entrance canopy – the first known architectural use of stainless steel in the UK. 

The Challenge

Called in to investigate leaks, Polyroof-approved contractor Capital Roofing Limited found that the canopy’s asphalt covering was slumping and cracked – allowing water ingress. There were further leaks around eight roof lanterns and – furthermore ‒ the poor state of the canopy was very visible from the hotel rooms that overlooked it. 

A new high-performance waterproofing system was needed to provide long term protection. But, in the short term, the chosen solution would also need to ensure minimum disruption during the refurbishment works. In particular, The Savoy were concerned that guests should not be troubled by noise or odour. 

Capital Roofing, therefore, recommended Polyroof’s Protec Evolve cold liquid-applied membrane, which met all of The Savoy’s exacting criteria.  

The solution: a durable, ultra–low–odour, fast–curing, cold liquid-applied roofing membrane 

Protec Evolve’s flexible hybrid polyester methacrylate formulation is ultra-low-odour while providing long-lasting waterproofing protection. (It has a BBA durability rating of at least 30 years.) And – used with Polyroof’s innovative RapidCure low temperature accelerator or summer inhibitor technologies ‒ Protec Evolve’s cure times can be as low as 30 minutes, allowing very fast application. 

These features would ensure that the refurbishment work would cause minimal nuisance to hotel guests. 

The Savoy operates a strict product approval process, and Polyroof needed to provide a sample of Protec Evolve for assessment before the work could begin. 

The solution: a durable, ultra–low–odour, fast–curing, cold liquid-applied roofing membrane 

To protect air conditioning units below the areas of water ingress, Capital Roofing began by diverting the leaks through temporary outlets. 

To preserve the appearance of the stainless steel sign, the front parapet wall could not be encapsulated with the new liquid waterproofing system. Therefore, the membrane was dressed onto the wall abutment upstands by a minimum of 150mm and terminated under the existing flashings. 

The three abutting walls feature air vents and windows positioned low above the canopy, meaning the membrane could not be applied with a 150mm upstand. In these areas, the new membrane was finished with a PU sealant. Vent covers were temporarily removed to allow application of the membrane. 

To resolve the leaks around the roof lanterns, the new membrane was terminated underneath the existing weathering flanges, with an upstand of 150mm in compliance with BS 6229. 

Outcome 

The new waterproofing system provides a high-performance, durable finish that will keep the canopy waterproof for decades to come.  

The careful installation around the roof’s many details ensures the integrity of the waterproof membrane while enhancing the appearance of the canopy when viewed from surrounding rooms and buildings.