PREVENTING WATER INGRESS
Following reports of recurring water ingress affecting a residential corridor within a student accommodation building, we were instructed to investigate the source of the leak and carry out the necessary remedial works to restore the roof’s weatherproof integrity.
To facilitate safe access, we installed scaffold and edge protection around the affected area. Once access was established, we carried out a detailed inspection of the roof covering, wall abutments and associated waterproofing systems to identify potential routes of water ingress.
Sections of the tiled roof covering were carefully removed to allow inspection of the underlying roofing membrane. Following our investigation, we carried out localised repairs to the existing waterproofing system before installing a new torch-on waterproof layer to provide a durable, weather-tight finish. The roof tiles were then reinstated and secured.
While access equipment remained in place, we extended our inspection to a wider section of the roof. During this process, we identified additional defects, including missing lead flashing and L-flashing details along sections of the wall abutment. These defects presented a potential route for water ingress beneath the roof covering and could have led to further deterioration over time.
Following discussions with the client, we agreed a programme of remedial works to address the additional findings while scaffold access was still available. The roof and wall abutment areas were prepared before new lead flashing and L-flashing details were installed and integrated into the roofing system. New torch-on waterproofing was then applied to create a continuous weatherproof seal between the roof covering and the building structure.
Upon completion, all repaired areas were thoroughly inspected and left watertight. By combining detailed investigation with targeted remedial works, we were able to resolve the reported ingress issues whilst also addressing underlying defects, helping to improve the long-term performance and resilience of the roof system.
