Whitby Abbey Visitor Centre Zinc Roof Survey

Overview

Mason Clark Associates (MCA) was appointed by English Heritage to undertake a detailed condition survey of the zinc roof as part of a broader revamp project for the iconic Whitby Abbey Visitor Centre.

This historic site required careful evaluation of the roof to inform future maintenance and also renovation plans while ensuring the visitor centre remained functional in the medium term.

Challenges and Solutions

The project presented several challenges due to the age and nature of the zinc roof, along with environmental factors such as coastal weather conditions. Our team overcame these challenges through detailed inspections and careful planning:

• Thermal movement and fatigue: the condition survey revealed that the zinc roof had areas of fatigue and cracking caused by thermal movement and the nature of its substrate and fixings. Our thorough evaluation allowed us to determine that while there were several defects, the roof could be repaired and made watertight in the medium term. This allowed English Heritage to budget for future re-roofing in the long term.
• Access and inspection: the inspection required careful coordination with the ongoing refurbishment works and was conducted in cold winter conditions, adding complexity to the task. We carried out two separate inspections. The first used a scaffold barrier viewing area and the second involved accessing the roof edges using a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) to inspect areas previously inaccessible due to safety constraints.

MCA's Contribution

We delivered a comprehensive roof condition survey, helping English Heritage to make informed decisions about the maintenance and future replacement of the zinc roof. Our key contributions included:

• Condition report and recommendations: we provided English Heritage with a detailed report outlining the state of the roof, including areas of fatigue, cracking and leaks. The report included short-term repair options and long-term replacement costs, enabling the client to plan effectively for future works.
• Specialist inspections: the inspection process involved a combination of scaffold access and MEWP to ensure every part of the roof was thoroughly evaluated. Our team worked in challenging weather conditions, ensuring that the inspection was completed safely and efficiently without disrupting the ongoing refurbishment works.

Results

As a result of the survey, English Heritage was able to plan both medium-term repairs and long-term re-roofing, allowing them to address immediate concerns without incurring unnecessary costs.

Our recommendations ensured that the roof remained watertight and functional, giving English Heritage time to budget and plan for future re-roofing while preserving the integrity of the visitor centre.