The roof on this busy car dealership, made of profiled asbestos sheet, had started to fail in several places causing leaks to the workshop and showroom areas. Temporary repairs had been implemented prior to a permanent solution being resolved.

The damage to the roof was typical of that found with asbestos, which becomes gradually more brittle with age. This makes it more susceptible to impact damage / cracking, but most failures are typically due to water ingress through the bolt heads and fixings, with end and side laps also prone to weakness.

Whilst a permanent repair was needed, one of the problems with an asbestos roof such as this was the cost and disruption of replacement, due to the potentially hazardous nature of the material if handled incorrectly. A number of ‘paint on’ resins and coatings were considered, however the longevity and performance of these was questionable.

In discussion with the appointed roofing contractor -Concept Roofing & Cladding - and Kemper’s own technical team, the Project Manager opted for the Kemperol + Coelan solution – an innovative development using two proven coatings in combination to both repair and encapsulate the roof. A seamless membrane of Kemperol 1K-PUR (a resin-impregnated polyester reinforcing fleece) was applied onto the side and end laps to seal and strengthen, with the entire roof then encapsulated in Coelan Coewell, an acrylic-based coating with excellent bonding characteristics.

Preparation and priming of the existing roof was simple and straightforward, with debris and organic material being removed by pressure washing prior to controlled disposal.

The repair was completed in a fraction of the time and disruption that would have been necessary for a complete re-roof; no strengthening of the substructure was necessary, and the uniform finish in a discreet yet attractive Mid-Grey colour gave the building a pleasing, renewed appearance.