Reduce avoidable costs
Keeping serviceable sheets may avoid the immediate removal, disposal and new-covering costs of a full replacement. Spend on the repairs and protection the roof needs.
ECOPROCORK® / SLICS-R™ / Commercial roofs
A smarter alternative
to roof replacement.
Keep a serviceable roof working for your business. Explore SLICS-R™ refurbishment for suitable asbestos-cement and steel roofs, with the potential to reduce replacement costs, limit disruption and protect your existing building. Interior applications and separate insulation upgrades can also be assessed.
Could your roof be saved? WhatsApp us ↗Explore your refurbishment options ↗Explore SLICS-R benefits ↓Compare costs & outcomes ↓
For industrial property owners, facilities managers, roofing contractors and commercial specifiers. Assessment and specification are essential; not every roof is suitable.
Keep the asset. Rethink the replacement bill.
A sound roof could be worth saving.
Why pay to remove and replace a roof that can still do its job? Where the structure and covering remain suitable, a specified refurbishment can protect the existing asset and release budget for the improvements your building actually needs.
Plan around your business
Explore phased working and smaller exclusion zones instead of assuming a full strip-off. The applicator agrees access, protection and any shutdowns with you.
Choose the right upgrade
Consider external roof protection, an interior treatment or separately designed insulation. Buy the outcome you need, with the full build-up specified.
Illustrative budget comparison · 1,000 m² roof · excluding VAT
£20,000 lower initial budget in our base scenario.
Retain and refurbish: £85,000.
Remove and replace with uninsulated sheeting: £105,000.
That is around 19% less upfront in this planning example. Neither option includes an insulation upgrade. These are generic market proxies plus disclosed allowances, not SLICS-R quotations or confirmed equivalent specifications. Actual savings may be smaller, larger or unavailable; the ranges overlap. The SLICS-R primer, cork, membrane, repairs and access must be priced for your roof. Retained asbestos still needs management and eventual removal.
See the full scopes, ranges and assumptions ↓Start with a conversation. Then compare the options.
Send your postcode, approximate roof area, steel or asbestos-cement roof type and photographs taken from a safe location. Tell us about leaks, corrosion, heat or your interior treatment needs. We can explain the system options and discuss the route to a suitable independent applicator.
Installation is carried out by individual applicators. Your appointed applicator assesses and quotes for the work, agrees the method and programme, and provides installation and workmanship terms. ECOPROCORK supplies materials and technical information; any manufacturer product warranty has separate written terms.
Already a roofing contractor? Tell us your coverage area and roofing/asbestos-work experience to discuss adding the system to your services.
The refurbishment proposition
Three priorities. One assessed roof system.
A commercial roof decision is about the condition of the asset, the disruption of replacement and the performance required. The appointed applicator assesses the existing structure and roof covering before quoting for SLICS-R™ or another appropriate route. ECOPROCORK supplies materials and supporting technical information.
Improve thermal performance
Cork-based layers can contribute to thermal improvement. Actual insulation performance depends on the approved layer thickness, roof assembly and project-specific thermal calculations.
Deal with small defects
Minor holes and localised defects may be addressed through suitable repairs and a compatible waterproofing specification. Structural failure and unsuitable substrates require separate remedial work.
Extend useful roof life
Where the underlying roof remains serviceable, a specified protective refurbishment can help limit further weather exposure and potentially defer premature replacement.
Specialist application
Asbestos-cement roof encapsulation: check suitability and evidence.
For suitable asbestos-cement commercial roofs, SLICS-R™ may be considered as a project-specific encapsulation route. Obtain the applicable certificate and verify its scope, approved system build-up, substrate conditions and work method before describing a particular specification or installation as certified.
In-situ encapsulation may avoid unnecessary removal of serviceable roof sheets. It does not remove asbestos or eliminate the legal duties to survey, manage and control work involving asbestos-containing materials.
Discuss an asbestos roof assessment ↗Essential suitability checks
- Asbestos survey, material condition and structural integrity
- Certification scope and approved SLICS-R system specification
- Repair requirements, roof access and controls for asbestos work
- Management, monitoring and maintenance after encapsulation
See HSE asbestos guidance. Competent assessment is required before disturbing any suspected asbestos-containing materials.
Who the service is for
Commercial and industrial roof applications
Factories and workshops
Consider roof condition, weatherproofing and thermal needs while planning around operating hours and access.
Warehouses and industrial units
Evaluate ageing sheet roofs, water ingress and refurbishment feasibility against a replacement specification.
We can discuss projects with owners, landlords, asset managers, facilities teams, roofing specialists and professional specifiers.
Industrial roof decisions · UK planning guide · 19 October 2026
Refurbish, insulate or replace?
A serviceable roof can be worth keeping. For factories, warehouses, workshops and other industrial buildings, compare the cost of retaining it with the cost of removing it and installing a new covering — then compare the insulation, disruption and future obligations separately. SLICS-R™ is ECOPROCORK’s specialist roof route, assessed against the building and the required outcome.
These are transparent budget scenarios, not ECOPROCORK quotations. Market coating prices refer to other systems, not verified SLICS-R installed prices. A roof assessment and priced specification are needed before committing funds.
Retain suitable sheets
Assess sheet condition, structure and safe preparation. Encapsulation can defer removal of serviceable material, but asbestos remains and must be managed. The manufacturer’s supplied action plan calls for treatment on both faces.
Repair before coating
Inspect corrosion, cut edges, fixings, laps, rooflights and remaining sheet thickness. A protective finish cannot restore lost structural capacity. Exterior waterproofing and interior surface treatment have different specifications.
Define the objective
Internal cork applications can be assessed for suitable steel soffits, ceilings and other industrial surfaces. Confirm adhesion, coating compatibility, fire requirements and condensation risk. Interior treatment alone does not renew external weatherproofing.
Installed £/m²: compare the same scope
Model basis: a straightforward 1,000 m² low-rise industrial roof, measured as actual treated roof area per face, usable structure, standard hours and reasonable access. Low / base / high are planning cases, not statistical confidence limits. All amounts exclude VAT. At 1,000 m², £85/m² means £85,000.
On smaller screens, swipe the table horizontally. “No insulation upgrade” routes are comparable with each other; routes with added insulation must be quoted to the same calculated whole-roof U-value.
| Scope | Low £/m² | Base £/m² | High £/m² | What the allowance includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Removal & disposal only | 20 | 30 | 40 | Published straightforward large-roof removal benchmark [1]. No replacement, insulation or complete-project preliminaries. Not a usable finished roof. |
| Remove + new uninsulated sheet roof | 75 | 105 | 140 | Removal 20/30/40 + installed sheeting 35/45/55 + project allowance 20/30/45 [1,2]. No thermal upgrade; only where a compliant specification permits. |
| Retain + encapsulation/refurbishment, both faces | 55 | 85 | 125 | Two coating faces 30/45/60 + project allowance 25/40/65. Coating proxy uses generic exterior silicone rates of 15–30 per face [3]; it is not a SLICS-R price or confirmation of equivalent scope. |
| Remove + new insulated panel roof | 115 | 155 | 210 | Removal 20/30/40 + installed insulated panels 75/100/125 + project allowance 20/25/45 [1,2]. Price insulation thickness and details to the agreed U-value. |
| Retain + both-face refurbishment + separate insulation | 85 | 135 | 200 | Refurbishment 55/85/125 + insulation allowance 30/50/75. Only if the designer confirms a compatible assembly; no assumed U-value or guaranteed feasibility. |
How the allowances work. Project allowances are our explicit estimates for access/fall protection, survey/design, controlled preparation, minor repairs, routine detailing and mobilisation. Insulation allows £20/30/40 for an installed quilt/liner market proxy [4], plus £10/20/35 for additional access, vapour-control and detailing. These allowances are not contractor quotations and may be insufficient for complex work. For SLICS-R, replace the generic coating proxy with a priced primer/cork/membrane build-up and both-face access method; additional waterproofing components are not separately costed here. Confirm overlaps so nothing is counted twice.
Excluded: major structural repairs, extensive sheet replacement, wholesale rooflight/gutter renewal, abnormal contamination, specialist enclosures, extraordinary monitoring, plant relocation, business losses, finance, future maintenance and eventual removal of retained asbestos. Price these separately. Add a client contingency of 10–20% as an assumption after survey; difficult projects can exceed the high case. For context, another 2026 contractor guide puts general replacement at £90–180/m² [5]; different inclusions explain why headline rates cannot simply be compared.
Steel and interior applications: a separate budget
For an existing steel roof, a generic exterior silicone coating benchmark is £28–42/m² installed [6]. Adding our £15/25/40 project allowance gives illustrative low/base/high totals of £43 / £60 / £82 per m² (coating assumptions £28/35/42). This is a market comparator, not a cork-system quote. Structural deterioration, complex corrosion and replacement sheets are extra. Do not deduct an asbestos-removal allowance unless asbestos is actually present in the work scope.
Interior sprayed cork: assessment and quotation required. We have not verified a like-for-like 2026 installed SLICS-R interior price. Price the required faces, preparation, access above machinery, masking, safe working zones, fire and condensation design, thickness and any separate insulation. Do not substitute an exterior silicone or spray-foam price for sprayed cork. The optional insulation allowance above is a separate assembly, not a claim that thin cork supplies equivalent resistance.
Decision matrix: likely comparative outcomes
| Decision | Retain & refurbish | Refurbish + designed insulation | Remove & replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best starting condition | Serviceable sheets and structure; treatable defects. | Serviceable roof with room, load capacity and moisture strategy for insulation. | Widespread failure, inadequate remaining life or major performance change. |
| Operations / downtime | Phased exclusion zones may limit disruption. Both-face work can require clear internal access and protection of stock/machinery. | Internal access, liner installation and services can add closures; exterior overcladding has different access needs. | Greater weather exposure and materials handling; phased work may still allow partial occupation. |
| Programme certainty | Preparation, moisture, weather and curing govern duration; roof-plan intercoat drying is 1–24 hours. | Includes design, vapour control and additional installation. | Includes removal, disposal, deliveries, installation and weather protection. |
| Asbestos | Remains in place; inspection, register and management plan continue. | Remains; preserve identification and future access, and assess fixing disturbance. | Removes the identified roof ACMs within scope; does not certify the whole building asbestos-free. |
| Thermal outcome | No quantified saving assumed for coating alone. | Calculate the whole assembly including bridges, rooflights and moisture effects. | Uninsulated replacement offers no designed thermal upgrade; insulated replacement can be specified to a target. |
| Life expectancy / warranty | No verified universal SLICS-R life extension. Supplied action plan states conditional 10-year warranty wording; obtain current UK issuer and terms. | Limited by retained sheets, insulation and all other components; no automatic reset of roof age. | A contractor describes 30–40 years for composite overcladding and 40+ for full composite replacement [4]; indicative market claims, not a project guarantee. |
| Future costs | Inspect, repair/recoat as specified; allow for eventual asbestos removal. | Maintain both roof and insulation; avoid concealed leaks or inaccessible ACMs. | Maintenance still required; verify warranty exclusions and inspection obligations. |
Downtime is not the same as work duration. There is no verified universal shutdown period for these routes. Ask each contractor for work days, affected areas, full/partial closure days, weather contingency and reopening criteria. For appraisal only, 0 / 3 / 10 full-closure-equivalent days at an assumed £2,000 lost contribution per day adds £0 / £6,000 / £20,000. These are sensitivities, not predicted closures; use lost contribution, not gross sales.
Thermal performance and energy: calculate the roof
Added layer resistance is R = thickness (metres) ÷ conductivity; the roof’s U-value depends on the full construction. Thin sprayed cork must not be equated with thick insulation. Historic thermal-annex entries have a thickness/resistance discrepancy identified in our datasheet evidence notes; obtain current grade-specific design values before sizing a system.
The scenarios below compare a separately designed insulated roof reaching U = 0.30 W/m²K with three assumed starting U-values. They are not measured SLICS-R savings or a claim of regulatory compliance. Both refurbishment plus insulation and insulated replacement must demonstrate their own target.
| Starting roof U-value | Target U-value | Modelled gas reduction / year | Modelled bill reduction / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.60 W/m²K | 0.30 | 18,000 kWh | £1,260 |
| 1.50 W/m²K | 0.30 | 72,000 kWh | £5,040 |
| 3.00 W/m²K | 0.30 | 162,000 kWh | £11,340 |
Formula: annual fuel reduction = (U before − U after) × area × degree-days × 24 ÷ 1,000 ÷ efficiency. Simplified steady-state roof heat-loss model: assumes heating maintains the degree-day base conditions; excludes changes in infiltration, other fabric, solar/internal gains, controls, cooling and rebound. Intermittently heated factories may save substantially less; an unheated building has no space-heating bill saving. Check results against actual fuel bills and a competent energy model. Tariff is a scenario input, not a quoted 2026 market price.
No fixed percentage saving, EPC uplift, condensation cure or payback is promised. At the base £50/m² insulation allowance (£50,000 on this roof), the middle £5,040 scenario gives a simple incremental payback of about 9.9 years before finance, maintenance, tax and tariff changes. It is not payback on the whole refurbishment project. England’s Approved Document L includes requirements for renovation/replacement of thermal elements; confirm applicable edition, commencement, exemptions and feasibility with building control. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate requirements.
Corporation tax: classify the expenditure first
Deductible repairs
Restoring an existing asset can qualify as a revenue repair. HMRC’s example includes renewal of a complete roof where it restores the building [7]. Encapsulation is not automatically a repair, and replacement is not automatically capital. The asset, work, acquisition circumstances and accounting timing matter [8].
Capital improvements
Alterations and improvements can be capital. Qualifying non-residential building expenditure may attract Structures and Buildings Allowance at 3% a year, subject to conditions and an allowance statement [9]. A tax adviser should separate genuinely distinct work and avoid double relief.
Added insulation
HMRC CA22220 explains that qualifying added thermal insulation to an existing building can receive plant and machinery allowances [10]. Eligibility and the relevant allowance depend on use, ownership and expenditure; do not assume the whole roofing invoice qualifies.
Illustration, not a refund offer: £100,000 of fully deductible repairs gives £19,000 or £25,000 tax reduction if the whole deduction is relieved at 19% or 25%, leaving £81,000 or £75,000 after that relief. Timing, profits, losses, associated companies and marginal relief can change the result [11]. For £100,000 qualifying for SBA alone, a full year’s 3% allowance is £3,000; at 25% tax this is £750 tax reduction that year, not £3,000 cash and not immediate relief on the whole cost. Disposal consequences may apply [9].
Land Remediation Relief is not included in any comparison. HMRC says certain additional regulated asbestos-removal costs may qualify [12]; this does not establish eligibility for this encapsulation project. Do not assume a 150% deduction, 37.5% saving or relief on an entire roof contract. Obtain a written, fact-specific tax assessment. Figures exclude VAT; no zero-rated industrial installation or VAT recovery is assumed.
Asbestos requirements and the evidence behind SLICS-R
For Great Britain, establish ACM location and condition with a competent survey appropriate to the work, then agree a risk assessment and plan of work under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Competence, training, exposure controls, RPE/PPE, decontamination, waste handling and safe access must match the task. HSE distinguishes non-licensed, notifiable non-licensed and licensed work; sound-material encapsulation can be non-licensed, but classification depends on the material and operation [13]. Awareness training alone does not establish competence to perform the work.
Asbestos-cement roofs are fragile. Coating does not make them safe to walk on. Plan fall prevention, exclusion zones and any necessary monitoring; do not use uncontrolled abrasive cleaning. Use the relevant HSE task guidance, including A12, A14 and A16, and approved waste arrangements [14]. Update the asbestos register and management plan after retained-roof work [15]. Northern Ireland requires its own regulatory check.
- Laboratory evidence: AITEX GMAT19/022v2, issued 15 October 2019, examined three supplied material types. Page 9 concludes that fibrous structure was not exposed at the examined cork-coated fibrocement surface. This supports surface coverage of that specimen; it is not an airborne fibre-release, long-term durability or universal UK encapsulation certificate. Read the original 13-page report.
- Manufacturer application route: the supplied roof action plan (English translation, undated) covers steel and asbestos coverings, primer, three cork coats and treatment of both faces for encapsulation. It includes conditional 10-year warranty wording. Confirm the original Spanish version, current revision, UK method, issuing party, cover and exclusions before contract; this page does not issue a warranty.
- European manufacturer experience: DECOPROYEC publishes an asbestos-encapsulation application route and project material in Spain. Manufacturer product/application information, updated 24 January 2026. Its waterproofing statement requires the DECOIMPER membrane and cork system. European references support consideration of the method; UK cost, roof suitability and measured savings need project-specific evidence.
Before specification, obtain the exact grade and build-up, substrate acceptance, repair/preparation schedule, adhesion testing, membrane and junction details, condensation/U-value calculations where required, applicable fire/roof-system evidence, maintenance plan and written warranty terms. A general C-s1,d0 specimen classification does not establish external roof fire performance or every industrial assembly. Read the full technical document register.
Discuss your roof and the applicator route
Send the postcode, approximate area, steel or asbestos-cement construction, internal/external access, survey records, leaks/corrosion, existing insulation, heating use and operating constraints. ECOPROCORK can explain the system options and discuss an introduction to a suitable independent applicator. The individual applicator assesses and quotes for installation, agrees the programme and provides their workmanship terms. Any manufacturer product warranty is separate and subject to its written terms.
Request a roof assessment / technical consultation ↗Sources, dates and calculation basis
Sources checked 19 October 2026. Contractor guides are indicative marketing benchmarks, not an independent tender-price dataset; their other claims are not adopted. Base points and project allowances are our model assumptions.
- HOLVEM: asbestos removal versus encapsulation, reviewed 14 October 2026. Large-roof removal £20–40/m² + VAT; insulated removal/replacement £100–160/m² + VAT.
- Faclade: UK roof-cladding cost guide 2026, individual publication date not stated. Installed uninsulated £35–55/m²; composite panels £75–125/m². Access, VAT and structural/non-standard work excluded.
- Duratite: encapsulation pricing, 3 April 2026. Exterior silicone £15–30/m². Used only as a generic coating proxy; supplier tax, saving and warranty claims are not transferred to SLICS-R.
- CHL Roofing: retrofit roof-insulation options, publication day not verified. Installed quilt £20–40/m²; composite longevity benchmarks. Site and system limitations apply.
- Nationwide Industrial Roofing: replacement guide, 28 July 2026. General replacement £90–180/m² excluding VAT.
- TriSpray: commercial roof-coating costs, 22 July 2026. Silicone £28–42/m² installed; scope to confirm.
- HMRC BIM46915: repairs versus improvements, manual updated 4 August 2026.
- HMRC BIM46901: repair overview and timing, manual updated 4 August 2026.
- HMRC: Structures and Buildings Allowance, updated 3 September 2020; checked for current rate and conditions.
- HMRC CA22220: thermal insulation of buildings, current manual accessed on review date.
- HMRC: corporation tax rates, current guidance accessed on review date.
- HMRC CIRD63200: additional asbestos-removal costs, manual updated 25 August 2026.
- HSE: non-licensed asbestos work and NNLW classification, current guidance accessed on review date.
- HSE Asbestos essentials task sheets and HSG33: health and safety in roof work, current sources accessed on review date.
- HSE: duty to manage asbestos, current guidance accessed on review date.
Frequently asked questions
Commercial roof refurbishment FAQs
Can a commercial roof be insulated without replacement?
Sometimes. The condition of the roof and the required thermal improvement determine whether an in-situ refurbishment is suitable. Cork coatings do not automatically achieve the performance of thicker conventional insulation systems.
Can SLICS-R seal small holes and stop roof leaks?
Minor defects may be treated as part of the specified repair and waterproofing build-up. Active water ingress, defective joints and damaged sheets first require a roof assessment. A coating alone is not a substitute for structural repair.
Can asbestos-cement roofing be encapsulated without removing it?
Potentially, when the roof is suitable and the encapsulation system and work method are within the applicable certification and legal requirements. Asbestos remains in place and must continue to be managed.
Will roof refurbishment qualify for tax relief?
Tax treatment depends on the company, property, type of expenditure and applicable legislation. No particular allowance or Land Remediation Relief should be assumed for in-situ encapsulation. Obtain project-specific tax advice.
How long will a refurbished roof last?
Any service-life projection must be based on the existing roof, approved specification, installation standard, maintenance and supporting durability evidence. We do not promise a fixed extension in years for every roof.
Start with the existing roof
Request a commercial roof assessment.
Tell us the property location, approximate roof area, roof construction, age and condition, known leaks or defects, any asbestos survey information, and what you want to achieve. Photographs can help our technical team identify the appropriate next steps.
Contact the ECOPROCORK team ↗