Zinc roofing and cladding

Longworth was employed by Robertson Construction to carry out the standing seam zinc roofing and cladding, Trespa cladding, single ply membrane roofing, aluminium fabrications and Solar PV. With the project value being over half a million and a large proportion of that being zinc, Longworth were one of only a handful of contractors around the country capable of taking on such a wide variety of disciplines.

The work included –

– Standing seam VM Zinc roofing and cladding on and including composite panels

– Sika Trocal single ply membrane roofing on insulation and metal decking

– Trespa Meteon Wood Decors on helping hand secret fix hook on system

– Solar PV roof panels

– Curved aluminium parapet cappings and cladding

Two in house designers were used to produce the details and plans, using 3D AUTOCAD.  This involved attending weekly meetings on site to co-ordinate with numerous other trades. The project manager for Longworth, Lee Smith was trained to an SMSTS level and was also qualified to NVQ Level 5.

Over the course of the project, Longworth employed 2 apprentices to take part in the project, with on site training.  Each apprentice was paired with an experienced installer to ensure their development was carried out properly.  They were also funded to complete an NVQ level 2 in roofing and cladding prior to starting on site.

The VM Quartz zinc roofing and cladding was installed using traditional craftsmanship, with a mix of fully locked and angled standing seams with single lock welted joints to facade areas.  All the zinc was installed onto a separating underlay to ensure that no contact was made between the zinc and the underlying plywood substrate.  All areas of cladding were also ventilated to comply with the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractor’s Guide to Good Practice.

The Efforts of the entire Longworth team, including the design engineers and site operatives and management were commended by the Main Contractor and the Client in delivering the project, on time, budget and to the right quality standards, exceeding their expectations.

Cockermouth Hospital History

In November 2009, the rivers Derwent and Cocker burst their banks and flooded through the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, damaging homes and businesses.

Following the flood, portacabins were set up on the local cottage hospital site to provide temporary primary health services for the local community.

As the extent of the damage was assessed, NHS Cumbria reviewed the health care provision for the people of Cockermouth and formulated a strategy for providing a ‘joined-up’ service, rather than simply patching-up its damaged buildings. From this review, the idea of the Cockermouth Community Hospital and Health Centre developed.

The new building houses GP and Dental practices, together with imaging and in-patient facilities. The layout promotes collaborative working between the different departments, through the use of flexible, multi-functional, spaces. This reflects an aspiration to promote a holistic healthcare model.

The building has been designed so that it has minimal impact on the environment. The ‘green’ credentials are recognised in its BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.