Page 12 - Under The Roof Avonside Group staff newsletter - June 2019

UNDER THE ROOF

incorporated various architectural styles running
across six bays. The entrance bay was marked with the
presence of a grand stone portico with projecting roof.
There was a series of Gothic arches, and the second
floor was pierced with a triple window set in a half-
round arch, plus a gabled parapet. The building had
been seriously damaged by fire, and there was nothing
left of the roof, yet the planners and conservationists
demanded a like-for-like rebuild. This would
necessitate the gathering and scrutiny of old
photographs and studying what few drawings could be
found.
The project was made more challenging by a series
of sequencing issues entirely beyond the control of
Bracknell Roofing. There was six weeks’ work on the
new roof, but it ended up taking almost a year. Long
gaps appeared in the work programme, including a
break of two months.

PRESERVING THE PAST
Conservation Officers also requested that the roof of
the Lodge should look exactly the same as the 1870s
original — which also meant studying old photographs
and even older drawings. The work had to be checked
and approved at every stage. This was an
extraordinarily intricate task. The new roof had to look
exactly the same as the old one. This went as far as
matching the patchwork of coloured tiles exactly. workmanship of Bracknell Roofing’s team included
The company’s Regional Contracts Manager was extensive use of Code 6 lead and the creation of a
heavily involved, always able to call on the support of Bishop’s Hat.
the central management resources. The quality
management system is registered to, and in PRECISE PROJECT MANAGEMENT
accordance with, ISO 9001:2015. Unusual sequencing with long periods of inactivity
would have knocked many a sub-contractor off course,
IMPECCABLE WORKMANSHIP but Bracknell Roofing has sophisticated project
The standard of workmanship on this most complex management resources and always applied these
heritage project had to remain unfalteringly high. Not flexibly. The client praised the response, and its Site
only did Morris Homes have to be satisfied Agent said that the scheme “looks absolutely stunning,
throughout, but there was also the regularly present and everyone involved should feel proud”. All work
Conservation Officer to please. Special features of the was done within budget.

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