Industrial roofing and re-roofing
Roofline re-roofs industrial buildings across Barnsley: warehouses, workshops, factory units and agricultural buildings. Overclad or strip and re-sheet, with insulation, rooflights and gutters brought up to date, and the work phased so the business keeps running.
Two ways to renew an industrial roof
Barnsley has a large stock of steel-framed industrial buildings from the 1960s to the 1990s, many still under their original fibre cement or single-skin metal roofs. When repairs stop being worth it, there are two routes.
Overclad (over-roofing)
A new insulated roof is built over the existing sheets using a spacer system, so the old roof stays in place as the ceiling. The building stays weather-tight throughout, there is no asbestos removal if the existing sheets are asbestos cement in sound condition, and the building gains insulation. The structure has to be able to carry the extra weight, so we check that first.
Strip and re-sheet
The old covering is removed and a new built-up or composite panel roof fitted to the existing purlins. The right answer where the existing sheets are failing badly, where asbestos has to go anyway, or where the structure cannot take an overclad. Done in phases and sheeted as we go.
- Structural check and purlin survey
- Insulation to current Approved Document L requirements
- New GRP rooflights, positioned for daylight and safety
- Gutters and rainwater goods renewed and sized
- Safety netting, edge protection and fragile roof controls
- Asbestos surveys and removal arranged where required
Owners and occupiers of warehouses, workshops, factory units, garages and agricultural buildings, and the agents and landlords who look after them.
Overclad or strip and re-sheet
We price both where both are possible and explain the difference honestly.
Overclad
Keeps the building dry throughout, avoids asbestos removal where the existing sheets are sound, adds insulation. Needs structural capacity.
Strip and re-sheet
The clean-slate option. Right where sheets are failing badly or asbestos has to be removed anyway. Phased so the building is never fully open.
Insulation upgrade
Either route lets you meet current thermal standards and cut heating costs, which matters for occupied units and food or pharmaceutical storage.
Rooflights and gutters
New rooflights transform the daylight inside. Gutters are resized for today's rainfall intensities, not 1970s ones.
Questions we are asked about industrial re-roofing
Can the building stay in use during a re-roof?
Usually, yes. Overcladding keeps the existing roof in place so the building stays dry throughout. A strip and re-sheet is done in bays, with each area stripped and re-covered before the next is opened, and the areas below cordoned. We plan the sequence with you around production, deliveries and staff.
Is my existing roof asbestos?
If the building was built before 2000 and has grey fibre cement sheets, there is a good chance they contain asbestos. It has to be confirmed by a survey before any work. Asbestos cement in sound condition can often be overclad and left in place, or removed by trained operatives as non-licensed work. See our asbestos cement sheet replacement page.
How long does an industrial re-roof take?
It depends on area, access and the route chosen. As a rough guide, an overclad progresses faster than a strip and re-sheet because there is no removal and no sheeting up. We give a programme with the quote and stick to it, weather allowing.
Book a site survey
A survey and written condition report is the starting point for every commercial job. It tells you what you have, what it needs and what it will cost, so you can plan and budget properly.
We plan the work so the premises stay operational: phased areas, sealed off zones, dust and noise controlled, and out-of-hours or weekend working where the site needs it.
Book a site survey
Tell us about the building and we will arrange a survey at a time that suits the site.
