Nu-loc case study: Southport Community Centre

Architects MBNA specified Nu-lok Roofing at the planning stage, in order to meet with the need for a traditional looking building.

Nu-lok's roofing system clicks into the heart of the Southport community.

"The two products from Kingspan and Nu-lok Roofing, worked superbly together".

"A flat base was created by the Kingspan composite roof sheet, perfect for the simple and easy Nu-lok Roofing spacing system".

During November 2006 Galliford Try Construction began work on The Southport Community Centre - a prestigious new development for the community of Southport, from Liverpool and Sefton Partnership By April 2007 it was time for a high specification roofing system to be added to the already stunning new build, which lies in the heart of Sefton town centre.

Architects MBNA had specified Nu-lok Roofing at the planning stage, in order to meet with the need for a traditional looking building which would have to be aesthetically pleasing, due to the fact that there were so many other people and buildings in the area.

Nu-lok Roofing recommended that Galliford Try Construction contact Bootle-based roofing specialists Helix Roofing Systems for installation.

Although the Helix team had never used Nu-lok before, they had used Kingspan products countless times and Nu-lok knew how well Kingspan and Nu-lok Roofing products work together.

Helix Roofing contacted Glen Addy, sales director at Nu-lok and arranged for him to visit them for a demonstration.

The Helix team felt that Nu-lok's revolutionary roofing system was one of the best they had ever seen.

The Nu-lok Roofing System, in conjunction with Kingspan's KS1000 TS Tile Support System, proved to be the perfect combination.

Mike Chesworth, contracts manager at Helix Roofing, explains: "The two products from Kingspan and Nu-lok worked superbly together".

"A flat base was created by the Kingspan composite roof sheet, perfect for the simple and easy-to-fit Nu-lok spacing system".

Nu-lok Roofing and Kingspan work closely to provide a roofing system which is attractive, well insulated, light-weight and quick to install.

The Kingspan KS1000 TS Tile Support System allows the building to be made weather-tight at an early stage in the construction programme, accelerating the start and completion of internal fit-out trades and enabling earlier client handover.

The Nu-lok Roofing System is based upon 1.2mm gauge galvanized steel battens that are ideally suited for the metal top sheet of the Kingspan KS1000 TS Tile Support System.

Nu-lok metal battens provide additional strength and stiffening to the entire roof installation and a safe and strong ladder way for roof tilers.

In addition to all of this, metal to metal fixing promotes the opportunity for the battening to be fixed on site by the roof panel installation crew.

Mike continues: "The main priority with the Southport Community Centre roofing project was that it was aesthetically pleasing".

"But ease and speed of fitting were also important, combined with the longevity that all community buildings require".

""The very dark grey coloured tile was most in keeping with the architectural plans, so we placed our order with Nu-lok and received the tiles without any delay".

""The Nu-lok system was an excellent system to fix".

"It was fast, easy and most of all it looks fantastic".

As Mike discovered, the natural Nu-lok roof slates may be substituted for Nu-lok's ceramic slates.

Should this be the design preference, then natural slates are used in a single lap format which further reduces the quantity, weight, labour and cost of slate material.

The Nu-lok roofing system can be completed once Gilliford Try Construction has carried out the next stage of work.

The Southport Community Centre project is due for completion during November 2007.

The results so far show a functional yet stylish community centre for the people of Southport.

It blends into the heart of the town centre and will soon become the hub of the area.

The Kingspan KS1000 TS Tile Support System is complemented by the addition of the Nu-lok Roofing System and gives designers and engineers increased opportunity to meet the ever increasing demands of clients, Government and local authority planning requirements.

Liverpool and Sefton Partnership also has the reassurance of a 50 year written guarantee against colour fade and structural defects on its roof.

Mike added: "We ordered over 900 sq m of tiles from Nu-lok Roofing and had absolutely no problems with tiles or the learning curve - it was really straightforward".

"We wouldn't hesitate to use Nu-lok Roofing again, for traditional or modern looking buildings.".

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