At Towers School, a joined-up approach to solar and roofing, supported by Garland UK’s Single-Point Guarantee, has delivered peace of mind, energy efficiency and long-term asset protection.
For the school, a leaking flat roof wasn’t just a maintenance issue to be swiftly addressed; it was an opportunity. By addressing both building condition and sustainability goals in one coordinated programme, the school has turned a vulnerable section of its estate into a high-performing asset, built for the long term.
In partnership with Richard Carré of Carré, an expert consultant and building surveying firm, Garland UK was appointed for a full roof refurbishment and solar PV installation under one integrated contract, and critically, under one guarantee. That approach is now paying dividends with a thermally efficient, watertight roof combined with a rooftop solar system that is actively reducing annual energy bills and carbon emissions.
A Smarter Way To RefurbishThe school had identified a key flat roof area, covering one of its teaching blocks, as a priority. With persistent water ingress and insulation failure, the existing roof posed both operational risks and an opportunity for performance uplift.
In parallel, the school was exploring ways to accelerate its carbon reduction plan and ease pressure on energy budgets. A solar PV installation was a logical step, but integrating it with a new roof covering posed technical and logistical challenges.
That’s where Garland UK’s service-led approach came in. “We collaborated with the school early on to design a solution that was cohesive and future-proofed,” says Sam Rigden, Garland UK’s Technical Manager. “Rather than treat solar and waterproofing as separate projects, we delivered a single, integrated solution, ensuring everything worked together, with a single point of contact from survey through to installation and aftercare.”
Technical Expertise from Start to FinishGarland UK specified a roof refurbishment using their StressPly Flex Plus bituminous waterproofing system, known for its strength, longevity and excellent thermal properties. The build-up achieved a U-value of 0.18 W/m²K, significantly improving the building’s energy performance and reducing heat loss.
A bespoke Solarise solar PV system was then installed above the new roof. The system is now delivering over 40,000 kWh of clean electricity per year, offsetting the school’s energy use and lowering its environmental footprint.
The combined impact has been immediate and measurable, with over 17 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided annually, an estimated £16,000 in annual energy savings, and 4.5 year return on investment.
Throughout the works, Garland UK maintained full technical oversight, including twice-weekly site inspections, contractor coordination, and post-installation support, all managed through their digital Roof Asset Management Programme (RAMP), ensuring complete visibility for the client team.
Guarantee Without the GuessworkPartnering with Garland UK meant the school could benefit from a Single-Point Guarantee, which provides comprehensive protection for the design, materials and installation of both the roofing and solar systems.
“There’s no ambiguity,” says Rigden. “If anything needs attention, whether it’s the waterproofing or the PV, the school makes one call to us. We handle the rest.”
For a busy school estate team, it eliminates the finger-pointing often associated with split warranties and gives complete assurance that the building envelope is protected, both now and in the future.
Building for the FutureThe success of the project has resonated beyond the school’s balance sheet. The new systems have supported the curriculum by giving students and staff visibility of real-world sustainability in action. More broadly, it’s helped demonstrate how capital works can align with climate goals when the right partnerships are in place.
For Towers School, this project was about more than solving a roofing issue; it was a chance to invest in long-term resilience and demonstrate the value of taking a joined-up approach.
