St Peter and St Paul Church, Bessbrook, South Armagh

Modern ‘breathable’ membranes allow moisture vapour to pass out of the roof space. As an air permeable and low resistance (APLR) underlay, Proctor Air® also allows air to pass through it, ensuring air movement in the roof at the same time.

Air movement is essential for preventing potential condensation risk in roof structures, but usually requires ventilation products to be installed at the eaves and/or ridge. This is a problem on heritage projects and listed buildings, as modern ventilation products risk spoiling the traditional appearance.

Built in 1869, St Peter and St Paul Church is a valuable heritage asset to the village of Bessbrook, south Armagh. Extensive restoration work was carried out in the 1950s, but a condition report in 2017 revealed the building was suffering from serious issues and required major conservation works.

To maintain the traditional appearance of the building and its roof finish, architects Consarc Conservation specified a roof build-up that included Proctor Air.

Air permeability is particularly useful on a project like St Peter and St Paul Church, where insulation improvements were also made to the roof. New insulation can be installed in the roof to be as effective as possible, without worrying about whether it is blocking eaves vents.

Overall, Proctor Air has made it possible to blend tradition and performance in the same roof restoration, supporting the conservation of heritage while making sure that St Peter and St Paul Church can serve its community for many more years.