FirstGroup, Bus Depot (Phase 2), Manchester

Further valley gutter refurbishment for FirstGroup Bus Depot

The ongoing work on roof leaks due to failing gutters at FirstGroup’s Boyle Street premises in Manchester recently reached the end of its second phase.

Following earlier work involving the Plygene Gutterline system, phase two was part of an ongoing depot refurbishment programme.

The first phase of the project had included the supply of a high-performance gutter lining system for three valley gutters.

The latest phase incorporated the installation of the gutter refurbishment system into the valley and boundary gutters.

Architectural firm AHR tasked Sharmans with the project survey and specification of materials required.

The Plygene Gutterline system was chosen for a number of reasons – it is an incredibly strong thermoplastic blend engineered specifically for the gutter environment, resistant to mechanical damage, highly durable and weathertight.

It withstands foot traffic and is UV resistant, maintaining its performance integrity for the full lifecycle of the building.

It also ensures that the original rainwater flow rate for the building is maintained and in some instances, improved.

The gutter lining system is seamless in design to eliminate the need for problematic joints that corrode and fail primarily as a result of thermal movement across seasonal cycles over a number of years.

Designing out these points of failure extends the performance integrity of the Plygene Gutterline system providing a permanent and guaranteed solution to stop gutters leaking for good.

In addition, the gutter lining component is non-bonded in design and thermally expands and contracts independently from the gutter substrate material.

The installation work was carried out alongside Sharman’s Trained Contractor Oasis Cladding.

Installation of the Plygene gutter lining system is not subject to the vagaries of the weather and can be installed in damp or light rain conditions and doesn’t need an ambient temperature of five degrees and rising – this was particularly important to mitigate against weather disruption.

Plygene Gutterline is designed to reduce site complexity and is quicker to install compared to the likes of liquids and membranes.

It is non-bonded, eliminating the need for initial extensive remedial cleaning prior to fitting and the system’s bespoke moulded components reduce complexity during the installation process.

The net result is faster installation and less building disruption – this was of particular importance to the client.

Commenting on the successfully completed project, Sharman’s Technical Services Manager Danny Wright said:

‘For a client and project of this size and scope, guaranteed leak prevention was critical to mitigate against building disruption, along with the assurance of a system designed specifically for the gutter, certified and guaranteed to ensure absolute peace of mind. There is nothing else on the market that compares with this system.’