The Savoy, London

The Savoy, London

Polyroof’s ultra-low odour, sustainable liquid applied membrane, Protec Evolve, was specified by Capital Roofing Ltd for the refurbishment of one of London’s most iconic landmarks, The Savoy Hotel. Boasting exceptional performance benefits, including RapidCure technology for extremely fast application, as well as being bolstered with a BBA durability rating of at least 30 years, Protec Evolve is ideal for installation within sensitive environments, futureproofing existing roof structures for many more years to come.

Explore the potential of Polyroof’s flagship Protec Evolve System >>

Background ; A pinnacle of British luxury; a quintessential symbol of style and elegance; a globally recognised landmark. The Savoy Hotel, London is a Grade II listed building situated in the Strand, which lies in the heart of the City of Westminster. Since its grand opening 135 years ago in August 1889, the art deco style Savoy is synonymous with providing an exceptional standard of quality spanning the entire guest experience, attracting visitors from near and far including royalty and many famous celebrities. Becoming the first hotel in Britain to install electric lighting throughout, in addition to many other innovations for the time, such as constant hot and cold running water in the bathrooms of the lavishly furnished rooms, to this day The Savoy continues to pride itself on providing the very finest service for its guests. The realms of service are not limited solely to the tangible aspects, however. The condition of the building that is relied upon to provide said service is arguably just as important, with the roof in particular being no exception. One of first features that guests of The Savoy lay their eyes upon before entering the hotel, is the iconic front canopy above the main entrance. In a world where first impressions are everything, the owners of The Savoy recognised that ensuring the roof provides adequate protection for the hotel’s inhabitants is crucial to their service offering.   

The Challenge

When it became apparent that the air conditioning units were leaking within the hotel building, The Savoy enlisted the help of Capital Roofing Limited to find the root cause of the issue and provide urgent rectification. They discovered the existing asphalt waterproof covering on top of the canopy was in a poor, aged condition, suffering from various failings including cracks as well as slumping. Comprised of screed to falls and a concrete deck, the canopy roof had also succumbed to leaks around the eight rooflights present, along with cracks which had left the roof structure susceptible to water ingress, resulting in water entering the air conditioning units. The failed roof was also visible from a number of The Savoy’s hotel rooms overlooking the canopy, as well as the surrounding residences. Recognising the need for urgent remedial measures, Capital Roofing looked towards the expertise of Polyroof to provide a suitable solution.

Upon conducting the site survey, it was clear that a new high-performance waterproofing system was required in order to provide long-term leak protection to the canopy roof. One of The Savoy’s primary concerns related to odour issues arising during the waterproofing works. As the hotel remained open for the duration of the project, it was imperative that disruption to operations were kept to an absolute minimum. Additionally, due to the canopy’s close proximity to the hotel’s bedrooms and apartments, Capital Roofing were conscious of The Savoy’s apprehension around disturbance to guests through noise and visibility of the works being carried out.

The Solution

Acknowledging the challenges around the project, the contractors subsequently recommended Polyroof’s flagship Protec Evolve System, owing to its ultra-low odour properties during installation. This sustainable, cold liquid-applied membrane provides long-lasting waterproofing for a wide range of refurbishment and new build applications. Powered by an advance flexible hybrid polyester methacrylate formulation, Protec Evolve is ideal for application within sensitive environments where the risk of disruption to operations is high. Complete with RapidCure technology for extremely fast applications, with cure times as low as 30 minutes, the system was perfectly placed to accommodate The Savoy’s strict turnaround time. Due to The Savoy’s stringent verification process, Polyroof was required to supply a sample of Protec Evolve in order for the solution to be approved for the waterproofing works. The product was quickly given approval for use in the refurbishment of the flat roof covering, due to its reputation for being low odour and thus its suitability for installation within live operational environments. The sustainability benefits of the system also positively influenced its verification, with The Savoy having implemented several green initiatives of their own to help futureproof the environment without compromising their guests’ experience, achieving a Green Key UK Certification 2024 for their leading standard of excellence. There were several complex details during the installation of the Protec Evolve System that Capital Roofing had to ensure particular attention was paid to meet the client’s specification. The Savoy specifically requested that the parapet walls were not encapsulated with the new liquid waterproofing system, therefore, the waterproofing membrane was dressed onto the wall abutment upstands by a minimum of 150mm and terminated underneath the existing cover flashings. Additionally, owing to the presence of ornate detailing on some of the wall abutments, the waterproofing membrane was dressed to said detailing and terminated with a PU sealant. In order to rectify the leaks around the eight rooflights, the waterproofing system was dressed onto the upstands at 150mm in height and terminated underneath a suitable weathering flange, to comply with the stipulations outlined in BS 6229. As the sustained water ingress was affecting the air conditioning units, Capital Roofing were tasked with the challenge of redirecting the leaking water so the units could remain live throughout the installation, which was achieved by diverting the water ingress through outlets contractors had to be mindful of the air vents on the roof during the project as these had the potential to cause disturbance to the hotel’s operations. To ensure a seamless installation of the new waterproofing system, they temporarily removed the existing cladding whilst the works took place, raising the upstands to the required height before returning the metal vent cladding to their original position post application. By maintaining constant communication with the hotel staff, Capital Roofing successfully mitigated any potential disruption around the complex detailing present on the roof.

The Result

Completed in October 2024 ahead of the hectic Christmas period, the success of The Savoy Hotel project is testament Protec Evolve’s versatility and ability to provide high performance, long-lasting waterproofing when faced with the adversity of intricate detailing. The result exemplifies a high performance, robust finish that will serve the roof of the hotel for many years to come, reinforced through its BBA durability rating of at least 30 years. Despite the challenges faced by Capital Roofing, they successfully encapsulated the tight detailing into the new waterproofing system according to the specification, thus not only futureproofing the integrity of the roof but also enhancing its aesthetics.