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Whites Close with Cambrian Slate
The Project
Re-roofing a property in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) presents a unique set of challenges. Throw into the mix an eight-sided roof featuring five dormers and a variety of complex angles, and you need a solution which delivers on uncompromising performance alongside aesthetics.
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. While its location in an AONB makes it an attractive place for residents to live, the building itself has a unique appearance – featuring an octagonal roof which spans 500sqm.
The roof itself had become prone to water ingress over the years, owing to its age as well as its unusual shape and construction. 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.
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The challenge
The Mid Cornwall Roofing team faced numerous challenges during this project, each demanding careful consideration before finding practical solutions. The primary obstacle arose from the unique octagonal shape of the roof, which inherently posed more difficulties than conventional roofing structures.
The previous concrete tile roof had become prone to water ingress – a problem which was exacerbated by the complexities of its unusual shape. In practice, the roof’s unusual angles and high volume of hips and valleys meant water was able to run into the hip, rather than away from it. Of the eight sides, five also featured dormers, introducing further intricacies which the new roof would need to accommodate – all while complementing the local landscape to comply with the area’s AONB status.
The solution
Rather than replace the existing roof like-for-like, Mid Cornwall Roofing opted for an engineered solution which would deliver the high levels of performance required for an eight-sided complex roof, as well as a beautiful new look to match the slate roofs commonly used locally for this unusual building. Striking this balance, BMI Redland’s Cambrian Slate was chosen for the job.
The engineered tiles – which are made in the UK with over 60% recycled Welsh slate – were lighter, faster, and easier to install thanks to their uniform structure. These same characteristics also meant the tiles could be delivered to site more easily and reduce storage requirements, minimising the impact of works on residents. Unlike natural slate – Cambrian is faster and easier to install due to its interlock and pre-worked nibs on the back of the tile, making it easier to work with.
The recycled nature of Cambrian and the fact that it is made at the BMI Redland plant just over 200 miles away in Wales, combined with the renewable energy from solar panels installed, improved the sustainability of the project and the site.
“To create a solution for this complex roof, the support of the Redland team was incredibly valuable throughout the project. This meant we’ve been able to deliver a roof that will last for decades to come, backed by a strong Redland guarantee.”
Shaun Gilbert, Mid Cornwall Roofing
Winner of 'Most Sustainable Project' award at the 2023 Pitched Roofing Awards.
The impact
As part of the Cambrian Slate system, specially-engineered Cambrian Mitred Hip tiles from BMI Redland were used to allow for a closed mitre – a specific requirement of the project due to its unique shape. This solution directly answers the problem of water ingress experienced with the previous roof by enabling water to run over the hip rather than under the hip tile.
As well as overcoming the technical challenges of the octagonal roof, Cambrian blends the beauty of natural, responsibly rescued Welsh slate with the engineered advantages of a full BMI Redland system. Made to last with a 60-year product guarantee, the authentic natural slate finish will age gracefully and sits perfectly within the AONB surrounding landscape.
Following completion of the re-roofing project, the property’s management team expressed their gratitude to Mid Cornwall Roofing for the work undertaken on this complex roof.
Can slate be better? It can with Cambrian.
Can slate be better? It can with Cambrian.
Meet Cambrian: A full system combining responsibly recycled Welsh slate with in-depth support. Easy to specify, easy to satisfy planning, easy to install. It’s not just beautiful – it’s beautifully engineered.
