Roof Conversion Brings Plaudits For London Housing Co-Op


The tenants of a North London Housing Estate are already feeling the benefits of an over-roof conversion system following the installation of Ashjack from Ash & Lacy.

The Ladybur Housing Co-operative is a tenant-managed organisation, which is responsible for the Ladybur Estate in Tottenham, a series of three residential blocks, each four storeys high, built in the 1930's. The roof structure was replaced in the 1970's with a flat asphalt roof which, having reached the end of its design life, was deteriorating significantly and causing water ingress in many of the tenants' properties.

Ashjack, a system that has been widely used in the refurbishment of buildings in both the public and private sectors over the past 17 years, was selected to convert the roof from flat to pitch. The 75 degree mansards and 30-degree pitch of the roof were designed to optimise drainage and avoid ponding water - one of the prime reasons for the leaking of the asphalt roofs. Having installed the galvanised steel subframe, roofing contractors Art Roofing then fixed timber battens to the steelwork onto which Decra lightweight steel roof tiles were attached to ensure the roofs blend in with their surrounding environment.

One of the main reasons cited for choosing Ashjack by John Howse, MRICS of John Howse & Associates Building Surveyors, the specifier on the project, was the system's bespoke lightweight steel framing system which removed the need for on-site cranage, an issue for a site where space is at a premium. The flexibility of the system was demonstrated by designing-in a 2.4 metre clearance along the full length of the roofs to allow maintenance access, while obstacles such as boiler house units and ductwork were allowed for within the steel frame's profile.

Also central to the roofing solution was the provision to allow the Ladybur Housing Co-operative to extend up into the roof space at a later date. The pitch of the roof provides a standing height of 2.5 metres, with a similar width created within the subframe which not only provides the maintenance access alluded to earlier, but also provides significant opportunities for extending the living accommodation or building of new units.

The success of the redevelopment is illustrated by the growing waiting list of people wanting to move onto the Ladybur Estate and by approaches from other Councils with a view to the co-operative taking on the management of their estates.

Developed by Ash & Lacy in 1988, Ashjack was the first structural lightweight over-roof conversion system in the UK. Quick and simple to assemble, Ashjack has provided a permanent refurbishment solution on buildings throughout all sectors of the UK construction industry. From a commercial point of view the life of the building is considerably extended, maintenance is reduced and the upgraded aesthetic properties create additional value to the property. Combining the Ashjack system with the complementary Decra lightweight roof tiles further enhances these benefits. Supported by a network of experienced installers Ashjack is available in a range of systems, which include a clear spanning option that is designed for use on buildings where the existing roof is suffering from severe structural degradation. Ashjack is also ideal for use on new-build projects where it provides a lightweight alternative to timber trusses or heavy hot rolled sections