Posted on 01 August 2016

Roofing projects - not just for summer holidays!

Every year surveyors working with schools face the same old challenge; they all want their roofing projects to be carried out over the summer holidays. This leads to a bottle neck of tendering, tender analysis and project management - which is not good for anyone! It doesn’t have to be this way - read on to see why. 

1) The problem of noise 

Many schools just don't want the work to be done during term time beccause they are concerened about noise. But actually noisy works can be programmed to take place over the weekends or out of school hours - avoiding this issue completely. 

2) Disruption 

The disruptive elements of a contract are invariably only a small proportion of the overall program. Hookway can phase the project so that the bulk of the work is carried out in term time then ensure that any disruptive elements are undertaken at weekends or during half term breaks. 

3) Risk of danger

With children and staff around, all roofing works should include for a clearly defined and fenced off drop zone and door fans providing an independent work area isolated from the day to day running of the school.

4) Cost implications 

Just like holidays, demand impacts on cost. So the mad rush that surrounds the “summer silly season” leads to increased demand on both materials and labour and can impact on costs. Work carried out outside of the school summer holidays invariably attract a much more competitive price, meaning that the school gets more for less! Here is an example of a roofing project that we carried out for St. Rose's school in Stroud where by carrying out work during term time it was completed ahead of schedule.