Roof Replacement for All Makes Autocentre – Ilminster

Tek Clad was engaged to strip and replace the roofs of two buildings – including one with multiple complexities - during the transformation of a working autocentre.

The four-month project, with a total value of £360,000, involved stripping away 2,000 square metres of asbestos cement roofing and replacing it with new roof panels, rooflights, and gutters.

Throughout the work, which took place over the summer of 2024, All Makes Autocentre needed to continue operating, with minimal disruption.

The Client

All Makes Autocentre, a family-run automotive service provider in Ilminster, has been a trusted name in the local community for years. The business has earned a reputation for its reliable vehicle repair and maintenance, specialising in servicing, MOT testing, repairs and tyres for all makes of vehicle.

The Project

This project involved transforming two buildings. Work comprised the safe removal of 2,000 sq m of old asbestos cement roofing, most of it single-skin, non-insulated panels, and replacing them with Kingspan KS1000Rw roof panels. Tek Clad also installed Filon’s GRP Factory Assembled Insulated Rooflights (FAIRs), new gutters and HD Sharman Plygene gutter linings.

The entire project was completed over four months, from July to October 2024, with a total project value of
£360,000.

Challenges and solutions​

From the beginning, this project was a challenge, with a number of complexities that had to be carefully considered and navigated.

Building Complexities

The first building was a complex composite building made up of several smaller buildings of different ages, materials, and constructions, with both steep roof pitches and dual pitch roof slopes.

The complexity, variation and number of transition points across the structure required the full depth and breadth of skills and experience across the Tek Clad team to successfully navigate.

Each section required a bespoke treatment, including elevation cladding between different roof pitches, and careful finishing throughout.

The buildings also comprised a combination of concrete frames and cold rolled and hot rolled steel frames. For the concrete frames, Tek Clad needed to construct a new timber framework to create secure fixing points for the new roofing system.

A working building

Throughout the project, it was vital the autocentre could continue operating and serving clients. With careful planning and project management, work was done in seven continuous phases, with no breaks in between. The All Makes team relocated to different areas as work progressed, allowing for safe working zones for both the All Makes team, and the Tek Clad team.

Both parties worked closely together, with strong communication and a willingness to make accommodations, allowing All Makes to continue to operate throughout with minimal disruption, and no one was put at risk at any point.

Sustainability

A key requirement was to deliver a roof that was not only robust but improved energy efficiency. Kingspan KS1000Rw insulated roof panels provided a modern, energy-efficient roofing solution, providing excellent thermal insulation and enhancing the overall durability of the building. Filon’s rooflights also enhanced the building’s thermal performance, as well as making the working space below brighter and more energy efficient.

The Results

Despite the complexity and challenges, the work was completed perfectly first time – with no issues reported more than six months on.

Tek Clad was also able to self-certify the work under the ‘competent persons’ scheme of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors.

This was a big investment – but a transformative one – providing a long-term solution to a raft of issues and ultimately enhanced the working environment for the All Makes team. Following the completion of the roofing works, the business owner took the decision to completely refloor and redecorate the interior too.

All Makes Auto Centre is now an impressive, modern facility, which allows the business to thrive. While there are no plans to move on, the work has also made a once-problematic building an attractive, high-value proposition for any future buyer.

Another happy customer

John, the owner of All Makes Autocentre, commented on the success of the project:

"I was genuinely blown away by Ian and his team. This was an incredibly complex job, demanding a high level of expertise, skill, and coordination - it needed a specialist team to even consider taking it on. Despite the complexity and challenges, the work was completed perfectly first time, to an exceptional finish. Six months on there have been no issues.

"From the outset, Ian’s project management was invaluable. He coordinated multiple phases to ensure minimal disruption, allowing our All Makes team to continue working throughout. Having set out to re-roof just one building, after meeting Ian and seeing how he operated, I invited Tek clad to work on both buildings, and it couldn't have worked out better.

"This was a big investment – but a transformative one, solving a raft of long-term issues, from leaks to insulation. It has completely enhanced the working environment for the All Makes team. Following the completion, I took the decision to completely refloor and redecorate internally too. The result is a building that reflects who we are as a company and supports the way we work. We couldn't be happier."

It is great to see that Filon, who supplied the roof lights, highlighted this project in their own case study here, crediting Tek Clad's "meticulous planning & coordination" and "precise execution" in the successful outcome.