Commercial Overclad In Waterbeach

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Ede & Ravenscroft - Full Video

The Project

Cambridge Roof Exchange was brought in to refurbish an ageing commercial roof at a site in Cambridgeshire.

The roof had reached the stage where it needed real attention, not just patch repairs, but a proper upgrade to its weather performance, thermal efficiency and long-term reliability. After assessing the existing structure, our team identified an overclad system as the best way forward.

Rather than stripping the roof back to bare structure, we installed the new system directly over what was already there. That decision alone made a big difference to the project, with less disruption, less waste, and far less risk to the programme timeline.

Working in a Live Environment

One thing shaped almost every decision on this job: the building never stopped operating.

This was a live site, with day-to-day business carrying on throughout. That meant the roofing works had to be planned carefully around the client's operations, not the other way around.

Because an overclad approach keeps the building weathertight at every stage, the occupants were able to keep working without interruption. There was none of the disruption you'd typically expect from a full strip-and-replace job. No exposed structure, no extended periods of vulnerability to the weather.

For a client running a live operation, that mattered enormously.

A New Roofing System

The existing roof was upgraded with new outer weathering sheets, giving the building a durable, modern external covering.

Beyond the improved look, this gave the roof a much stronger defence against water ingress and general wear over time. On completion, the new system came with a 40-year warranty, real, long-term peace of mind for the client.

Improving Thermal Performance

Thermal upgrades were also a core part of the brief.

We incorporated additional insulation into the new roofing build-up, improving the overall performance of the building envelope. The goal was twofold: help bring the property closer in line with current energy-efficiency and EPC requirements, and cut down on unnecessary heat loss through the roof.

For older commercial and industrial buildings like this one, the roof is often one of the biggest levers for improving energy performance, and for getting ahead of future energy standards.

New Rooflights

As part of the refurbishment, we also installed new rooflights.

Swapping out ageing rooflights does more than just improve how the roof performs. It changes how the space below feels. More natural daylight makes for a brighter, more pleasant working environment, and it can meaningfully cut down on the need for artificial lighting during the day.

Gutter Improvements

The existing gutter system got an upgrade too, with new gutter liners installed throughout.

Gutters are one of those things that quietly cause big problems when they're neglected. Deterioration over time is one of the most common causes of leaks and water ingress on commercial roofs. The new liners add an extra layer of long-term protection, helping ensure rainwater keeps being managed and discharged properly.

Why Overcladding Made Sense Here

Overcladding isn't the right call for every roof, but where the existing structure is sound, it's a genuinely effective alternative to a full strip-and-replace.

Keeping the existing roof in place means less material coming off site, a shorter programme, and far less disruption overall. It also dramatically reduces the window during which the building is exposed to the elements, something that's unavoidable with a traditional strip-and-replace approach.

For this client, that meant they could keep operating throughout, while still coming away with a new, thermally improved and fully weatherproof roof.

Looking After It Long-Term

Once the refurbishment was complete, the property was enrolled onto our HALO annual roof maintenance programme.

HALO is built around scheduled inspections and preventative maintenance, catching small issues before they turn into expensive ones. Regular maintenance like this protects the client's investment and helps the new roofing system perform at its best for as long as possible.

The Result

What started as an ageing, underperforming roof is now a modern, high-performance building envelope.

Between the new weathering sheets, rooflights, gutter liners and improved insulation, the client ended up with a roof that's more durable, more energy-efficient, and far more reliable than what was there before.

But the real win was how it was delivered. The entire refurbishment was completed within a live working environment, with the client's operations carrying on throughout and minimal disruption along the way.