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The Pitched Roofing Awards, founded by Roofing, Cladding & Insulation (RCI) magazine, aims to shine a spotlight on the industry’s most outstanding projects and people who operate within it. The awards were presented at a sparkling ceremony in Manchester on 24th November.
Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), the project at Whites Close required a sympathetic approach, ensuring it would tie into its local surroundings where slate is predominantly used. Alongside aesthetics, performance was of utmost importance, particularly given the roof’s unusual characteristics – eight sides, featuring five dormers and spanning around 500sqm.
As a sheltered care facility operated by Cornwall Housing, Whites Close comprises 32 individual apartments which provide residents with a comfortable home alongside access to care and support. To undertake a full replacement, Cornwall Housing leaned on the expertise of specialist contractors, Mid Cornwall Roofing, a local family business and one of the longest running roofing companies in Cornwall.
The use of Cambrian Slate on this project enabled Mid Cornwall Roofing to meet both performance and aesthetic requirements, alongside sustainability targets. Cambrian Slate is engineered using more than 60% responsibly rescued Welsh slate waste - a by-product left behind from slate quarrying - making it an environmentally friendly option in environments where slate is the preferred material. As an engineered product, it is also lighter and easier to install.
Meghan Waller, Marketing Director at BMI UK & Ireland, commented: “There were some fantastic projects in the running for this year’s Sustainable Project of the Year, so we’re delighted that Mid Cornwall Roofing’s project has been recognised. As well as highlighting the sustainability credentials of our Cambrian Slate, this project demonstrates how the system can be used to overcome the intricacies of complex roof designs, delivering a reliable solution that combines sustainability, performance and visual appeal.
”Alongside Cambrian, it was fantastic to see PV panels installed on this project, further elevating its sustainability potential and equipping the building with a source of renewable energy. As building efficiency becomes increasingly critical, the addition of solar panels maximises the potential of the building fabric to work harder – for the benefit of occupants and our environment.”
The unique roof shape on the Whites Close project had ultimately led to the previous concrete roof becoming prone to water ingress, with unusual angles and a high volume of hips and valleys enabling water to run into the hip, rather than away from it. The new Cambrian Slate roof system meant these challenges could be tackled directly with specifically engineered components, such as the Cambrian Mitred Hip, to provide a reliable roof for decades to come.
In addition to the recycled nature of the Cambrian tile, BMI Redland manufactures Cambrian Slate in Wales – only 200 miles away from the Cornwall project. In practice, this minimised the carbon footprint during the construction phase, while the addition of solar panels supports the long-term sustainability of the project.
Shortlisted for Best use of concrete & clay tiles for a commercial project
"The existing Hardrow slates were in a dilapidated state causing multiple leaks around the hospital. We worked with the client to offer a cost effective alternative that can be installed on a roof under 20°. We opted for the Redland Mini Stonewold. We were tasked to provide a thermal upgrade. As this is a fully functional hospital, the loft space is full of plant & pipework, meant that joist/ceiling level insulation was not an option.
We worked with architects Halliday Meecham to design a suitable insulation option whilst also reducing the risk of interstitial condensation risk. This was a live hospital, so programming was critical due to nature of the building. Noise, was also a major consideration during the clinics opening hours, as too were deliveries & many day-to-day site activities. We worked closely with Spire Healthcare to deliver a refurbishment that met their day to day requirement, as well as fulfilling the contract in full to the satisfaction of the client."
Shortlisted for Best use of slate for a domestic project
Installation of the Cambrian Slate was a straightforward job for the experienced team at Bell Group. With several years of experience working with the specified product, the team adopted a familiar process to access the roof, including the use of scaffolds and a mechanical hoist.
With the project being carried out during the autumn, adverse weather - exacerbated by the buildings' location along the River Tame - made for challenging installation conditions, however, this was overcome by proactively checking local weather forecasts and planning day-to-day activity around anticipated weather conditions, ensuring work could continue to be carried out safely.
Shortlisted for Best use of concrete & clay tiles for a domestic project
Originally owned by the local council, but now owned and managed by Clarion Housing as social housing, the Kelly Close project comprises of 33 terraced houses built in the mid-to-late 1950s. The Kelly Close project is part of a wider Barne Barton estate £22m regeneration. The Barne Barton estate was originally Britain's largest naval estate and, due to its isolated position, was known locally as the "forgotten island".
Their division into five or six blocks allowed for a block-by-block approach to the project, which included using the Redland Regent tile to reroof not just the main roofs, but the porches and sheds also. A couple of areas of degradation had to be considered during installation, including the wearing down of both the bitumen underfelt and the concrete lintel. Alongside flues having been put through, there were a few issues with the existing roof that were comfortably solved during the reroofing process.