Storm Gladys: The Importance of High Quality Roofing Installations

WITH the O2 Arena roof falling victim to Storm Eunice, and more heavy snow and 70mph winds expected to hit the UK when Storm Gladys arrives later this week, it’s never been more important to utilise high-quality products, according to leading roofing firm, PermaRoof UK.

Storm Gladys will be the fourth storm to hit the country in just five days after Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin swept the UK, causing widespread disruption and several roof failures, with record 122mph gales recorded in the south of England.

Adrian Buttress, managing director of PermaRoof UK, part of PermaGroup, said: “There’s more to the specification of a roof than people may think. In the case of the O2 Arena, the damage has possibly come about due to the change in landscape surrounding the venue since it was originally built 20 years ago, which will have had an impact on wind speeds and how they react to the structure.

“While it’s not possible to fully eradicate the risk of damage, particularly when we’re experiencing such extreme weather, there are several factors that can help to minimise the likelihood of complete failures, like the ones we’ve seen over the past week.

“The key to a long-lasting commercial roof lies in the design that takes place before installation – including wind calculations of the building’s postcode, which will measure historic wind levels and turbulent wind uplifts. By gathering this information at the beginning, it ensures the correct specification and, therefore, minimises the likelihood of failure or damage.

“At a time when cost is at the forefront of people’s minds, it’s important to bear in mind that a higher up front cost is likely to save money in the long run, as it all but eradicates the risk of premature failure, which is crucially important during storm season when our roofs are put under more pressure than ever.

“We always say that ‘prevention is better than cure’ and, for anyone concerned about how their roof is going to fare against the ongoing storm season, it’s always worth seeking specialist advice. A simple roof survey will be able to identify any weaknesses or issues hiding below the surface that may be able to be rectified before a failure takes place.”

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