A successful weatherproofing project starts with understanding why a building is failing. At Stratford Police Station, an ageing building was experiencing ongoing water ingress issues caused by the original internal gutter design.
With the internal gutters located behind fire separation boundary walls, it was not possible to ‘design them out’, so the team looked at why they were not functioning. Our investigations revealed that the overflow provisions were poorly designed, resulting in water building up within the system and entering the building.
Rather than simply replacing components, our team redesigned the internal gutters to discharge to sumps outside of the building envelope. Overflows were relocated to remove any possibility of water surcharging the gutters, meaning that there was no possibility for standing water to find any ingress points.
To raise the roof height without additional framing, we utilised a proprietary warm roof over the existing roofing, delivering both more height and fall to the gutters as well as increased thermal performance.
All of this was achieved without having to close the station, which needed to remain fully operational throughout construction.
Sometimes the best solution comes from questioning an existing idea. At Nelson Police Station, S&T queried the initial proposal, identifying opportunities to simplify construction and building code compliance requirements through design – resulting in a simplified approach, a reduction in construction costs and improved outcomes overall.
The resulting solution removed the need for additional sprinkler protection within the roof cavity, eliminated the requirement for raising fire-rated boundary walls and reduced the need for additional structural works. Relocating HVAC equipment to ground level also reduced ongoing maintenance risks associated with servicing equipment at height.
Most importantly, the revised design delivered improved weather protection while simplifying the overall remediation strategy and drastically reducing costs to the Police.
Effective weatherproofing is about much more than just keeping water out. A well-considered design solution can improve building performance, reduce maintenance requirements, minimise future disruption, and extend the life of an asset.
By understanding how roofing, drainage, structure, mechanical services and building envelope systems interact, it is possible to turn recurring problems into long-term solutions with good design and appropriate material selections. Our integrated approach is particularly valuable for schools, public buildings, commercial facilities, and other occupied environments where construction must be carefully managed around ongoing operations.
If your building is experiencing leaks, recurring maintenance issues or is nearing the end of its life, addressing the underlying cause early can help avoid more significant costs in the future.
Our team has extensive experience delivering re-roofing, weatherproofing and refurbishment projects across New Zealand, helping building owners identify risks, develop practical solutions and create more resilient buildings for the future.
Talk to our team about your next re-roofing or weathertightness project.
