Case Studies

Cases that reveal what lies beneath the surface.

We show defective systems uncovered when coverings are removed, damaged areas are opened up or intrusive investigations are carried out on real projects.

From symptom to root cause

Is the point where water appears the point where the defect began?

Often it is not. Water may enter through a fall, build-up layer, valley, parapet or junction and appear elsewhere. A case study considers the water path, opening-up findings and continuity of detailing together, rather than reading the visible symptom in isolation. The technical cause is explained while the project identity remains confidential.

  • The route followed by water
  • Opening-up and build-up findings
  • Anonymised technical learning
Opened-up, damaged and defective installations

We investigate defective systems beneath the visible surface.

This section contains only photographs of genuine defects, damage and intrusive investigations. Its purpose is not to display faults for their own sake, but to make visible the root cause, relationship between build-up layers and water-management problem revealed when the covering is removed.

Condition and damage survey of an industrial metal roof
INDUSTRIAL METAL ROOF · POST-DAMAGE AND OPENING-UP SURVEY

Inspection — Defective areas of the covering are opened up in a controlled manner. Technical assessment — The source of damage, build-up continuity and performance risk are considered together.

Damage assessment of a tiled roof following a natural disaster
TILED ROOF · Damage assessment following a natural disaster

Inspection — The damaged tile covering is removed. Technical assessment — The substrate, supporting conditions and water management are checked together.

Intrusive technical investigation of a roof build-up
ROOF BUILD-UP · INTRUSIVE INVESTIGATION

Inspection — Concealed layers are opened up in a controlled manner. Technical assessment — Discontinuities in the substrate and water-management build-up are recorded directly.

System defect exposed beneath removed roof covering
REMOVED STANDING SEAM COVERING · UNDERLYING SYSTEM DEFECT

Inspection — The system beneath the standing seam covering is exposed. Technical assessment — Substrate and installation defects show why a surface repair is not a permanent solution.

Intrusive investigation of valley, chimney and drainage areas on a tiled roof
VALLEY · CHIMNEY · DRAINAGE · INTRUSIVE INVESTIGATION

Inspection — Valley, chimney and drainage zones are opened up in a controlled manner. Technical assessment — Concealed damage and discontinuities in detailing are recorded directly.

Additional field record

Two visible symptoms, one inspection principle.

The still image records an open metal-roof junction; the video documents discontinuous surface repairs around rooflights. Together they show why the drainage path, build-up and junction design must be assessed as a whole rather than treating the visible symptom in isolation.

Open and discontinuous junction in a standing seam metal roof
METAL ROOF JUNCTION · OPEN AND DISCONTINUOUS DETAIL

Observed condition — The covering and capping elements do not meet continuously. Technical risk — Water management, restraint and wind exposure must be assessed together.

ROOFLIGHT PERIMETER · SURFACE REPAIR AND DETAIL DISCONTINUITY

Observed condition — Different patching materials are present around the rooflight. Technical risk — Water ingress cannot be controlled reliably until the root cause and junction design are resolved.

Visible damage is often only part of the problem.

When the covering is opened up or removed under controlled conditions, the substrate, continuity of the build-up, drainage route, ventilation and junction design can be assessed together. This prevents repair decisions being based solely on the visible surface symptom.

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