Blenheim ‘beehive’ roof in line for replacement

Blenheim’s sagging ‘‘beehive’’ roof will be switched out this summer for something a little sturdier.

The Marlborough District Council building, on Seymour St, has been earmarked for a $400,000 roof replacement, after it became too expensive for staff to continue patching up leaks.

Investigators found last year the existing roof’s ‘‘membrane’’ was in poor condition, and that a lack of support and substantial thickness had caused it to sag in places.

Council economic, community and support services manager Dean Heiford said this caused water to leak through the roof, damaging walls, ceilings, carpet and lighting on the top floor of the building.

He said the roof had been a problem for several years.

‘‘We keep running around and making repairs to leaks, and it got to the point where it was no longer economic to continue making repairs. We have to replace the roof,’’ Heiford said.

The council decided to build a new timber and steel roof structure and membrane over the current timberframed roof, using the old structure to support the new one. It would also repair water-damaged walls on the ground floor of the building.

Council building control group manager Bill East said the durability of most roof cladding was limited to 15 years under building codes.

‘‘Any building owner should be looking at and maintaining their roof cladding after a period of 15 years,’’ he said.

Building plans also said asbestos had been identified, and asbestos claddings in the walls would be removed and disposed of.

‘‘It’s also an opportunity to get upgraded windows and cladding at the top level, and improve the fire escape there as well,’’ he said.

Heiford said he was unsure when work on the roof would occur, but said it was likely a ‘‘summer job’’, as this would have the ‘‘least amount of impact for staff and public in the area’’.

The council had lower staff numbers in January because of holiday leave.

‘‘We’re hoping that this, like anything of this nature, might get done over the holidays, but that could add to the cost. Plus builders have families and will want to have holidays as well,’’ Heiford said.

Building plans showed some staff offices, the mayor’s office and the council chambers were all clustered within the 38-year-old ‘‘beehive’’ structure. Other parts of the Seymour St offices were not affected.

The council announced a tender on August 1 requesting information and pricing on replacing its beehive roof.

The roof replacement was estimated to cost the council about $400,000, but this figure could change if the tender found costs to be lower or higher, Heiford said.

‘‘Any figure outside that one [$400,000] would have to get approval for the extra budget before it goes ahead,’’ he said.