The shining light of Polyroof’s Contractor Focus returns once more, this time upon Preston-based Designed Roof Systems Limited. Despite having only been a Polyroof Approved Contractor since 2024, their relationship with our team spans many years and their reputation as award-winning installers of quality roofing systems speaks before them. In April 2025, Polyroof’s Technical Digital Marketing Executive, Ryan Gerrard, and Business Development Manager, Phil Reid, sat down with Designed Roof Systems’ Michael and Daniel Devlin to discuss their success to date and exciting plans for the future.
Since their inception back in 1996, Designed Roof Systems has long dedicated themselves to quality of installation, firmly maintaining a strong growth mindset, which has largely contributed to their longevity of service to the commercial and industrial roofing industry. Michael Devlin originally began the business as a sub-contractor to larger firms, however, he soon recognised the potential to expand, subsequently investing in a fleet of vehicles and growing the team, which enabled them to undertake more and more projects.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way
One of the leading factors behind Designed Roof Systems’ success is always striving to find a solution for the customer, irrespective of the challenges presented. Speaking of the company’s customer-centric approach, Michael said: “We have never come across an installation that has been too challenging for us. Naturally, some projects are more complex than others, but we always manage to come up with a solution that meets both the client’s needs and suits the requirements of the installation environment. Throughout our almost 30-year lifespan, never have we been unable to find a resolution to a customer’s problem. Doing what is right for the customer is firmly at the core of our company ethics, embedded throughout our operations.”
Michael and the team soon learnt that the technology used during installation was crucial to providing the quality service they have now become renowned for. Despite having experience with other disciplines of roofing initially, they ultimately decided to specialise in liquid flat roofing installation. Michael added: “In the early days, most roofing contractors specialised in felt application or single ply, so we decided to be different and stand out from the competition by utilising the capabilities of liquid technology. We found that when tendering for projects, we won many of them due to liquids being suitable for larger, more intricately detailed projects. The beauty of liquid flat roofing membranes is their versatility. In our experience, it’s rare to find a flat roof or an area where a liquid cannot be installed; it can be used in virtually all applications.”
Rescuing an iconic building
Designed Roof Systems have been involved in a number of flat roofing projects with Polyroof, since becoming a member of our approved contractor network. One of these projects was the refurbishment of Lytham’s iconic Stringers Department Store, which is one of only two remaining independent department stores in the United Kingdom. Working diligently with the Polyroof team, Designed Roof Systems identified issues with the existing waterproofing, which had failed over time and resulted in leakage issues. They were also faced with multiple different types of substrates, however, their advanced experience in liquid waterproofing application meant this was of little consequence, subsequently specifying Polyroof’s Protec Evolve System.
Reflecting on the success of the Stringers project, Michael said: “The heritage behind the Stringers name made this a very special project for us. The store is well-known across the North-West, therefore, it was important that we paid extra care to maintaining the historical intricacies of the building, whilst ensuring we provided long-lasting protection for the roof. Specifying a Polyroof liquid membrane enabled us to do this, and the ultra-low odour formulation of the Protec Evolve System reduced the risk of disruption to commercial operations.”
Investing in the future
Designed Roof Systems are committed to staying ahead of the curve, continuing to adapt to technological advancements within the liquid waterproofing arena. As the company has gone from strength to strength, they have become even more sales driven and are regularly looking at ways they can continue to evolve the business. Michael’s son Daniel is gradually taking over at the helm at the company and has lots of exciting plans for the future of Designed Roof Systems.
Backed by a skilled workforce, Designed Roof Systems are committed to ensuring their installers are fully equipped with the necessary skills and resources to carry out installations to the highest of standards. Daniel added: “For us, it’s not just about delivery. It’s about having a responsibility for our workforce, helping them to achieve their aspirations. The majority of our installers have over 20 years of experience in liquids, which puts us in a prime position to upskill the next generation of roofers. We believe it’s important to pass on these skills on through rigorous training and monitoring as the team continues to grow, so that we maintain the high standards we are known for.
“Our relationship with Phil goes back many years and since he has introduced us to Polyroof, we have had a really positive experience working with them. The ease of application offered by their liquid roofing systems significantly speeds up the project turnaround time, pleasing our installers and benefitting the client. The technical support from Polyroof is second to none and we know we can rely on them to assist as and when is required from start to finish. We look forward to continuing our partnership with them.”
Are you a flat roofing contractor who is looking to become certified in the application of advanced, versatile, fully cold-applied liquid membranes? Apply to become a Polyroof Approved Contractor today.
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