Croydon University Hospital - Spanish Slate Roof Refurbishment
Project Overview
Croydon University Hospital is a busy NHS site serving a large and varied patient population across South London. Like many hospitals that have grown and evolved over decades, the building comprises a mix of roof types and additions – each with its own age, condition, and set of requirements.
Maguire Brothers were appointed to carry out the re-roofing of a pitched roof section as part of a wider programme of roofing works across the Trust. The works involved stripping and re-slating approximately 100m² of pitched roof using natural Spanish slate, along with a series of minor repairs to the surrounding area. Keeping the hospital fully operational throughout was not just a preference – it was an absolute requirement.
The Challenge
The section of roof due for replacement sits directly above one of the hospital’s main entrances – one of the busiest points on the entire site, used continuously by staff, patients, and visitors throughout the day.
Working overhead in that environment presented significant logistical and safety challenges. A complex scaffold scheme was required to provide safe working access while fully protecting everyone passing below. Any interruption to that entrance, or any compromise to the safety of those using it, was simply not an option.
The Solution
Before work could begin on the roof itself, a protective pedestrian tunnel was designed and erected beneath the scaffold, maintaining safe and unobstructed access through the main entrance throughout the works. This allowed the hospital to continue operating as normal – staff on shift, patients attending appointments, and visitors coming and going – with no disruption to the flow of the building.
With the protection measures in place, the existing roof covering was stripped and the area re-slated using natural Spanish slate. Chosen for its durability, natural character, and proven longevity, Spanish slate is well suited to a building of this kind – a material that will perform for decades and sit comfortably alongside the varied roofscape of a large hospital site. Minor repairs were carried out to the surrounding roof areas as part of the same visit, making the most of the scaffold being in place.
Throughout the project, programme management and site coordination were closely managed to minimise the time the scaffold was in place and reduce the footprint of the works as much as possible.
The Outcome
The re-slated roof section now provides Croydon University Hospital with a durable, weathertight finish that will stand the test of time. Natural slate brings a quality and longevity that sits in sharp contrast to some of the more utilitarian roof types found across a large hospital estate – and it improves the appearance of the building in a prominent, well-used area of the site.
These works form part of an ongoing relationship with the Trust, and reflect the kind of careful, considered approach that healthcare environments demand. When the building never closes and the people inside it are vulnerable, there is no margin for poor planning.
Contact us today
If you’re planning a industrial roofing project anywhere in the South East of England, get in touch with the team to discuss how we can find the best solution for you.